
Class PS ?)53\ 



Book 



,F\?>T ^ 



CoipghtN»_:?^^3 



CDRO^SGHT DEPOSm 



(Mrs. Lionel Marks) 



THE PIPER. lamo, $i.io«^2f. Postage extra. 

THE BOOK OF THE LITTLE PAST. Illus- 
trated in color. 8vo, $1.50. 

THE SINGING LEAVES. i8mo, $1.00, net. 
Postpaid, $1.05. 

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Postpaid, $1.19. 

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OLD GREEK FOLK STORIES. In Riv- 
erside Literature Series. Paper, 15 cents, 
net; linen, 25 cents, net. Postpaid. 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY 
Boston and New York 



19 f^ 



THE PIPER 




By Josephine Preston Peabody 




m 



BOSTON and NEfF TORK 
Houghton Mifflin Company 

1909 




COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY JOSEPHINE PEABODY MARKS 
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

Published November jqoq 



©C1.D 7 735:j 



TO 
LIONEL S. MARKS 



atltttO 1284 

aim 2Da0e 2FoI)anm^ et 5^auli 

?^ar tier 26 ^Funii 

2Dorcf) einen ^ipcr mit allerlep fatbe 

fieftletict 
oBetoe^en €f f f Minhtt berletiet 
25mnen i^amelen geBoren 
€o Calbarie 6i tien Jioppen betlotm 

[THE HAMELIN INSCRIPTION] 



CHARACTERS 



The Piper 

Michael-the-Sword-Eater 

Cheat-the-Devil 

Jacobus the Burgomeister 

Kurt the Syndic 

Peter the Cobbler 

Hans the Butcher 

Axel the Smith 

Martin the Watch 

Peter the Sacristan 

Anselm, a young priest 

Old Claus, a miser 

Town Crier 

Jan 

Hansel 

Ilse 

Trude 

RUDI 



Strolling Players 



Men of Hamelin 



Children 



Characters 

Veronika, the wife of Kurt 
Barbara, daughter of Jacobus 
Wife of Hans the Butcher 
Wife of Axel the Smith 
Wife of Martin the Watch 
Old Ursula 

Burghers^ nuns^ priests^ and children 

Scene : Hamelin on the Weser, 1284 ^' ^' 



SCENES 

ACT I. The market-place in Hamelin 

Scene I. Inside the '-Hollow-Hiir 



"■{ 



ACT „ . _ 

Scene II. The Cross-ways 

ACT III. The Cross-ways 

ACT IV. The market-place in Hamelin 



One week is supposed to elapse between Acts I and 11. 

Acts II and III occupy one day. 

Act IF concerns the following morning. 



Act I 




The Piper 



Act I 



Scene : ne market-place of Hamelin, Rights the 
Minster, with an open shrine (right centre^ 
containing a large sculptured figure of the 
Christ. Right, farther front, the house 
of Kurt ; and other narrow house-fronts. 
Left, the Rathaus, and {down) the home of 
Jacobus. Front, to left and right, are cor- 
ner-houses with projecting stories and case- 
ment windows. At the centre rear, a narrow 
street leads away between houses whose 
gables all but meet overhead. 

It is late summer afternoon, with a holiday crowd. 
In the open casements, front {right and left, 
opposite each other), sit Old Ursula and 
Old Claus, looking on at men and things. 
— In the centre of the place now stands a 



4 ThePiper 

rude wooden Ark with a tented top : and 
out of the openings {right and left) appear 
the artificial heads of animals^ worn by the 
players inside. One is a Bear {inhabited by 
Michael -THE- Sword -Eater); one is a 
large Reynard-t he-Fox, later apparent as the 
Piper. Close by is the mediaeval piece of 
stage-property known as ^ Hell-Mouth, i. e, 
a red painted cave with a jaw-like openings 
into which a mountebank dressed in scarlet 
(Cheat-the-Devil) is poking ^ Lost Souls' 
with a pitchfork, 

Barbara loiters by the tent, Veronika, the sad 
young wife of KvKT J watches from the house 
steps, left, keeping her little lame boy, Jan, 
close beside her. 

Shouts of delight greet the end of the show, — 
a Noah's Ark miracle-play of the rudest; 
and the Children continue to scream with joy 
whenever an Animal looks out of the Ark. 

Men and women pay scant attention either to 
Jacobus, when he speaks {himself none too 
sober) — from his doorstep, prompted by 
the frowning Kurt, — or yet to Anselm, 
the priest, who stands forth with lifted hands, 
at the close of the miracle-play. 




ThePiper 5 

Anselm 

ND you, who heed the colors of this 

show, 
Look to your laughter ! — It doth 

body forth 
A Judgment that may take you 
unaware, — 
Sun-struck with mirth, like unto chattering 

leaves 
Some wind of wrath shall scourge to nothing- 
ness. 

Hans, Axel, and Others 
Hurrah, Hurrah ! 

Jacobus 

And now, good townsmen all, 
Seeing we stand delivered and secure 
As once yon chosen creatures of the Ark, 
For a similitude, — our famine gone. 
Our plague of rats and mice, — 

Crowd 



Hurrah — hurrah ! 



6 ThePiper 

Jacobus 
'T is meet we render thanks more soberly — 

Hans the Butcher 
Soberly, soberly, ay ! — 

Jacobus 

For our deliverance. 
And now, ye wit, it will be full three days 
Since we beheld — our late departed pest. — 

Old Ursula 
\^utting out an ear-trumpet'\ 

What does he say ? 

Reynard 
\_from the Ark'] 

— Oh, how felicitous ! 

Hans' Wife 
He 's only saying there be no more rats. 



ThePiper 7 

Jacobus 
[witb oratorical endeavor'] 

Three days it is; and not one mouse, — one 

mouse. 
One mouse, I say! — No-o-o ! Quiet ... as 

a mouse. 

[_Resuming] 
And now . . . 



Crowd 
Long live Jacobus ! 



Jacobus 

You have seen 
Noah and the Ark, most aptly happening by 
With these same play-folk. You have marked 

the Judgment. 
You all have seen the lost souls sent to — 

Hell — 
And, nothing more to do. — 

[Kurt prompts him] 

Yes, yes. — And now . . . 
[Hans the Butcher steps out of his group,] 



8 ThePiper 

Hans the Butcher 

Hath no man seen the Piper? — Please your 
worships. 

Others 
Ay, ay, so ! 

— Ay, where is he? 

— Ho, the Piper! 

Jacobus 

Piper, my good man? 

Hans the Butcher 

— He that charmed the rats ! 

Others 
Yes, yes, — that charmed the rats! 

Jacobus 

\^piously\ 

Why, no man knows. — 
Which proves him such a random instrument 
As Heaven doth sometimes send us, to our use ; 
Or, as I do conceive, no man at all, — 
A man of air; or, I would say — delusion. 
He *11 come no more. 



ThePiper 9 

Reynard 
\_from the Ark~\ 

Eh? — Oh, indeed, Meaow ! 

Jacobus 

'TIs clearest providence. The rats are gone. 
The man is gone. And there is nought to 

pay, 

Save peaceful worship. 

\_Pointing to the Minster,'] 

Reynard 

[sarcastically] 

Oh, indeed, — Meaow ! 
[Sudden chorus of derisive animal noises from 
the Arky delighting People and Chil- 
dren. 

Kurt 

Silence, — you strollers there ! Or I will have you 
Gaoled, one and all. 

People 

No, Kurt the Syndic, no! 



lo The Piper 

Barbara 

[_lo Jacobus\ 

No, no! Ah, father, bid them stay awhile 
And play it all again. — Or, if not all. 
Do let us see that same good youth again, 
Who swallowed swords — between the Ark 

Preserved 
And the Last Judgment ! 

Reynard 

Michael-the-Sword-Eater, 
Laurels for thee ! 

\T^he Bear disappears: Michael /»«/j out 
his own head^ and gazes fixedly at Bar- 
bara. 

Children 

Oh, can't we see the animals in the Ark? 
Again ? Oh, can't we see it all again ? 

Ilse 

Oh, leave out Noah ! And let 's have only Bears 
And Dromedaries, and the other ones ! — 
\General confusion^ 



The Piper ii 

Kurt 
Silence ! 

Jacobus 

Good people — you have had your shows; 
And it is meet, that having held due feast. 
Both with our market and this Miracle, 
We bring our holiday to close with prayer 
And public thanks unto Saint Willibald, — 
Upon whose day the rats departed thence. 

Reynard 

\Joudly~\ 

Saint Willibald ! 

Bear 

— Saint Willibald ! 

Other Animals 
[looking ouf\ 

r Saint Willibald! 
1 Saint! Oh! 

Crowd 

Saint Willibald ! — And what had he to do 
With ridding us o' rats ? 



12 The Piper 

Hans the Butcher 

'T was the Piping Man 
Who came and stood here in the market- 
place. 
And swore to do it for one thousand guilders ! 

Peter the Cobbler 

Ay, and he did it, too ! — Saint Willibald ! 
\_Renewed uproar round the tent,'] 

Kurt 
\_to Jacobus] 

Drive out those mountebanks ! 'T is ever so. 

Admit them to the town and you must pay 

Their single show with riotings a week. — 

Look yonder at your daughter. 

[Barbara lingers by the Ark-Tent ^ gazing 
with girlish interest at Michael, who 
gazes at her, his bear-head in his hand for 
the moment^ 

Jacobus 

Barbara ! 
\_She turns back, with an angry glance at 
Kurt.] 



The Piper 13 

Axel the Smith 

\_doggedly to them\ 

By your leave. Masters ! I would like to know. 
How did Saint Willibald prevail with the 

rats ? — 
That would I like to know. I, who ha* made 
Of strong wrought traps, two hundred, thirty- 
nine. 
Two hundred, thirty-nine. 

Reynard 

\caUing\ 

And so would I! 



Hans the Butcher 

So please your worships, may it please the 

Crier, 
Now we be here, — to cry the Piping Man — 



Peter the Cobbler 

A stranger-man, gay-clad, — in divers colors ! 
Because he, with said piping — 



14 ThePiper 

Hans the Butcher 

— Drave away 

The horde of rats ! 

Peter the Cobbler 
[sagely'] 

To our great benefit ; 
And we be all just men. 

Others 

Ay, ay ! — Amen ! 

Women 
Amen, Our Lady and the blessed Saints! 

Jacobus 

Why, faith, good souls, if ye will have him 

cried. 
So be it. — But the ways of Heaven are 

strange ! 
Mark how our angel of deliverance came, — 
Or it may be. Saint Willibald himself, — 
Most piedly clothed, even as the vilest player ! — 
And straight ascended from us, to the clouds ! 



The Piper 15 

But cry him, if you will. — Peace to your 

lungs ! — 
He will not come. 

[Kurt wrathfully consults with Jacobus, 

then signals to Crier, 

Crier 

Oyez ! Oyez ! Oyez ! 
Whereas, now three days gone, our Plague of 
Rats 

Was wholly driven hence, our City cleansed, 
Our peace restored after sore threat of famine. 
By a Strange Man who came not back again. 
Now, therefore, if this Man have ears to hear. 
Let him stand forth. — Oyez ! Oyez ! Oyez ! 
\jtrumpet. — People gaze up and down 
the little streets. — Reynard steps out of 
the Ark and comes down slowly^ with a 
modest air, — YsJ^'^t points him out, threat- 
eningly, and the Crowd bursts into deri- 
sive laughter. — He doffs his animal-head 
at leisure, showing a sparkling dark-eyed 
face. 

All 

The Man ! the Man ! 



i6 The Piper 

Kurt and Jacobus 
The Devil ! — 'T is — 

All 

— The Piper ! 

\jrbe Piper regards them all with debonair 

satisfaction; then reverses his head-piece 

and holds it out upside-down^ with a con- 

fident smile. 

Piper 

Three days of rest, your worships, you have had. 
I see no signs of famine hereabout. 
The rats are gone, even to the nethermost tail : 
And I 've fulfilled my bargain. Is it granted ? 
[Murmurs, then cheers of " y/j, Ay, 
Piper ! ''from the crowd. 
Thank 'ee. — My thousand guilders, an you 
please. 

Jacobus 

One thou — Come, come ! This was no sober 

bargain. — 
No man in reason could — 

Piper 

One thousand guilders. 



The Piper 17 

Kurt 
One thousand rogueries ! 

Jacobus 
[/^ Piper] 

You jest too far. 

Axel 

Lucky, if he get aught ! — Two hundred traps, 
And nine, and thirty ! By Saint WilHbald, 
When was I paid ? 

Axel's Wife 
Say, now! 

Piper 
. . . One thousand guilders. 

Peter the Cobbler 
Give him an hundred. 

Hans the Butcher 
Double ! 



i8 The Piper 

Hans' Wife 

You were fools 
To make agreement with him. — Ask old Claus. 
He has the guilders ; and his house was full 
O' rats ! 

Old Claus 

\jbaking his stick from the windozv] 

You jade ! And I that hoard, and save, 
And lay by all I have from year to year, 
To build my monument when I am gone, 
A fine new tomb there, in Saint Boniface ! 
And I to pay for all your city rats ! 

Old Ursula 
[gleaning outy opposite] 

Right, neighbor, right well said ! — Piper, hark 

here. 
Piper, how did ye charm the rats away? 

Piper 

\_coming down] 

The rats were led — by Cu-ri-os-ity. 

'T is so with many rats ; and all old women; — 

Saving your health ! 



ThePiper 19 

Jacobus 

No thought for public weal. 
In this base grasping on — 

Piper 

One thousand guilders. 



For piping 



Merciful heaven ! 



Kurt 

[contemptuously] 

Piper 
Shall I pipe them back again ? 

Women 

Good Saint Boniface ! 
Good Saint Willibald ! 
Peter and Paul defend us ! 



Hans tie Butcher 

No, no ; no fear o' that. The rats be drowned. 
We saw them with our eyes. 

Piper 

Now who shall say- 
There is no resurrection for a mouse ? 



20 ThePiper 

Kurt 

— Do you but crop this fellow's ears ! — 

Veronika 
\_from the steps'] 

Ah, Kurt ! 

Jacobus 
\to him, blandly] 

Deal patiently, good neighbor. All is well. 

[_To the Piper] 
Why do you name a price so laughable. 
My man? Call you to mind; you have no 

claim, — 
No scrip to show. You cling upon — 



Piper 
[sternly] 

Jacobus 
I would say — just — 

Piper 
Your word. 



Your word, 



The Piper 21 

Jacobus 

Upon — 

Piper 

Your word. 
Sure, 't was a rotten parchment ! 

Jacobus 

This is a base. 
Conniving miser ! 

Piper 

[turning proudly] 

Stand forth, Cheat-the-Devil ! 
\Up steps the Devil in red. People shrink^ 
and then come closer. 
Be not afeard. He pleased you all, of late. 
He hath no sting. — So, boy ! Do ofFthy head. — 
[Cheat-the-Devil doffs his red head- 
dress and stands forth y a pale and timo- 
rous youth y gentle and half-witted, 
Michael, stand forth ! 

[Michael comes down, bear-head in hand, 

Barbara 

[regarding him sadly] 

That goodly sword-eater ! 



22 ThePiPER 

Piper 
[defiantly] 
So, Michael, so. — These be two friends of mine. 
Pay now an even third to each of us. 
Or, to content your doubts, to each of these 
Do you pay here and now, five hundred 

guilders. 
Who gets it matters little, for us friends. 
But you will pay the sum, friend. You will 

pay ! — 

Hans, Axel, and Crowd 

Come, there's an honest fellow. Ay, now, pay ! 

— There *s a good friend. — And would I had 

the same. 

— One thousand guilders ? 

— No, too much. 

— No, no. 
Kurt 

Pay jugglers? — With a rope apiece ! 

Jacobus 

Why — so — 
Piper 

They are my friends ; and they shall share with 
me. 



The Piper 23 

'T is time that Hamelin reckoned us for men; 
— Hath ever dealt with us as we were vermin. 
Now have I rid you of the other sort — 
Right you that score! — 

Kurt 

These outcasts ! 

Piper 

[hotly] 

Say you so ? 
Michael, my man ! Which of you here will try 
With glass or fire, with him? 

Michael 

\_suUenly\ 

No, no more glass, to-day ! 

Piper 

Then fire and sword ! 

[_They back away.] 

So! — And there's not one man 
In Hamelin, here, so honest of his word. 
Stroller ! A pretty choice you leave us. — Quit 
This strolling life, or stroll into a cage I 



24 ThePiper 

What do you offer him ? A man eats fire — 
Swords, glass, young April frogs — 

Children 

Do it again ! 
Do it again ! 

Piper 

You say to such a man, — 
* Come be a monk ! A weaver ! ' Pretty choice. 
Here 's Cheat-the-Devil, now. 

Peter the Cobbler 

But what 's his name ? 

Piper 

He does n't know. What would you ? Nor do I. 
But for the something he has seen of life, 
Making men merry, he *d know something 

more ! 
The gentlest devil ever spiked Lost Souls 
Into Hell-mouth, — for nothing-by-the-day ! 

Old Ursula 

\with her ear-irumpet] 

Piper, why do you call him Cheat-the-Devil ? 



ThePiper 25 

Piper 

Because his deviltry is all a cheat: — 
He is no devil, — but a gentle heart ! 
— Friend Michael here hath played the Devil, 

betimes. 
Because he can so bravely breathe out fire. 
He plied the pitchfork so we yelped for 

mercy, — 
He reckoned not the stoutness of his arm ! — 
But Cheat-the-Devil here, — he would not hurt 
Why — Kurt the Syndic — thrusting him in 

hell. [Laughter, 

Cheat-the-Devil 

\unbappily~\ 
No, no — I will not hurt him! 

Piper 

[soothingly to him] 

Merry, boy ! 
[To the townsfolk~\ 
And, — if ye will have reasons, good, — ye see, — 
[ want — one thousand guilders. 

Jacobus 

In all surety, 
Payment you'll have, my man. But — 



26 ThePiper 

Hans the Butcher 

As to 's friends, — 
An that yon Devil be as feat wi' his hands 
As he be slow o' tongue, why, I will take him 
For prentice. Wife, — now that would smack 
o' pride! 

Peter the Cobbler 

I '11 take this fellow that can swallow fire. 
He *s somewhat old for me. But he can learn 
My trade. — A pretty fellow ! 

Piper 

And your trade ? 

Peter the Cobbler 
Peter the cobbler. — 

Michael 

I ? What, I ? Make shoes ? 
\_Proudly\ 



I swallow fire. 



Piper 
Enough. 



ThePiper 27 

Barbara 
[asUe, bitterly] 

I '11 not believe it. 

Piper 
[to Hans] 



Your trade ? 



Hans the Butcher 
I 'm Hans the Butcher. 

Michael 

Butcher ? 

Cheat-the-Devil 

[unhappily] 

Butcher ! 
Oh, no ! I could n't hurt them. 

[Loud laughter. 

Butcher's Wife 

'T is a fool ! 

[^he Piper motions to Michael ^«^Cheat- 

the-DeviLj who during the following join 

the other player-folk, strike their tent, 

pack their bundles, and wheel off the bar- 



28 ThePiper 

rows that have served them for an Ark, 
leaving the space clear before the Shrine. 
Exeunt Strollers, all but Michael, who 
hangs about, still gazing at Barbara. 

Jacobus 

Good people, we have wasted time enow. 
You see this fellow, that he has no writ — 

Piper 

Why not, then? 'T was a bargain. If your 

word 
Hold only when 't is writ — 

Kurt 

We cannot spend 
Clerkship on them that neither write nor read. 
What good would parchment do thee ? 

Jacobus 

My good man — 

Piper 
Who says I cannot read ? — Who says I cannot ? 

Old Claus 
Piper, don't tell me you can read in books ! 



ThePiper 29 

Piper 

[^/ bay] 

Books ! Where 's a book ? Shew me a book, 
I say ! 

Old Ursula 

The Holy Book ! Bring that — or he *11 bewitch 
you. 

Piper 

Oh, never fear. I charm but fools and chil- 
dren ; 

Now that the rats are gone. — Bring me a Book : 

A big one ! — 

[Murmurs. 'The Piper defiant, I'he crowd 
moves towards the Minster, Enter An- 
sel m the priest y with a little acolyte, — 
the two bearing a large illuminated Gospel^ 
book, Anselm, eyeing the Piper gravely y 
opens the book, which the boy supports on 
his head and shoulders. 

Piper 

Ho, 't is too heavy! Come, you cherub-head. 
Here 's too much laid upon one guardian angel ! 



30 ThePiper 

\_Beckons another small boy^ and sets the book 

on their two backs. 
Well? — well? What now? 

\He looks in frank bewilderment at the eager 

crowd. 

Crowd 

Read, read ! 

Kurt 

He cannot read. 

Piper 
\to Anselm] 

Turn — turn — there 's nothing there. 
[Anselm turns pages. Piper looks on blankly] 

. . . Ahj turn again ! 
The red one ! — 

\_He takes his pipe from his belt] 

No, the green ! The green one. So. 
[Starts to pipe, looking on the book,] 

Crowd 

Sure 't is a mad-man ! 
But hear him piping ! 
_ What is he doing? 



The Piper 31 

Piper 

[^puzzled at their mirth'\ 

What the green one says. — 

\A burst of laughter from the crowd. Jan, 

the little lame boy on the steps, reaches his 

arms out suddenly and gives a cry of delight, 

Jan 

Oh, I love the Man ! 

\He goes, with his crutch, to the Piper, who 
turns and gathers him close. 

Jacobus 

\to the People'] 

Leave off this argument. 

Kurt 

Go in to Mass. 

Jacobus 

Saint Willibald! 

Piper 

\in a rage] 

That Saint ! — 



32 ThePiper 

Kurt 

Hence, wandering dog ! 

Piper 

Oho ! — Well, every Saint may have his day. 

But there are dog-days coming. — Eh, your 
worship ? 

[^0 Anselm, suddenly] 

You, there! You= — Brother — Father — Un- 
cle — You ! 

Speak ! Will you let them in, to say their 
prayers 

And mock me through their fingers? — Tell 
these men 

To settle it, among their mouldy pockets. 

Whether they keep their oath. Then will I go. 

Kurt 

[savagely] 
Away with you ! — 

Anselm 

The Piper should be heard ; 
Ye know it well. Render to Caesar, therefore. 
That which is Caesar's. 



ThePiper 33 

Piper 
— Give the Devil his due ! 

Jacobus 
[warilyl 

We must take counsel over such a sum. 

[Beckoning others, he and Kurt go into the 
RathauSy followed by all the men. Exit 
Anselm with the Holy Book into the Min- 
ster. — 'The children play Mouse, to and 
fro, round about the Piper. — T^he women, 
some of them, spin on the doorsteps, with 
little hand distaffs, or stand about, gossip- 
ing. 

\jrhe Piper wipes his forehead and goes up 
slowly {centre^ to drink from the fountain 
at the foot of the Shrine. — Michael, like 
one in a dream, comes down towards Bar- 
bara, who gazes back at him, fascinated, 
through her laughter, 

Barbara 

Is it for pay you loiter, Master Player? 
Were you not paid enough? 



34 ThePiper 

Michael 

No. — One more look. 

Barbara 
Here, then. — Still not enough? 

Michael 

No ! One more smile. 

Barbara 

[agitated ] 

Why would you have me smile ? 

Michael 

[passionately^ 

Oh, when you smiled, 
It was — it was like sunlight coming through 
Some window there, 

[Pointing to the Minster] 

— some vision of Our Lady. 
[She drops her flowers. — He picks them up 
and gives them back slowly, 

Barbara 
Who are you? You are some one in disguise. 



ThePiper 35 

Michael 

A man — that passes for a mountebank. 

Barbara 

\_eagerly^ 
I knew ! 

Michael 

What then ? 

Barbara 

Thou art of noble birth. 
'T is some disguise, this playing with the fire ! 

Michael 

Yes. — For to-day, I lord it with the fire. 
But it hath burned me, here. 

[Toucbing bis breast. ~\ 
[Overcome for tbe moment ^sbe draws away , — 
^he Piper, coming down, speaks stealth- 
ily to Michael, who is still gazing. 

Piper 

For all our sakes ! 
There is bad weather breeding. — Take to thy 
heels. 



36 ThePiper 

[Barbara turns back to see Michael 
withdrawing reluctantly, and throws a 
rose to him with sudden gayety, 

Barbara 
Farewell to you, Sword-Swallower ! — farewell ! 

Michael 

[looking back'] 

Farewell to you, my Lady, in-the-Moon. 

\_Exit. 
[Jan clings once more to the Piper, while 
the other children hang about, Veronika 
calls to her boy, from the steps. 

Veronika 

Darling. — 

Piper 

[drawing nearer] 

Is this your Boy ? 

Veronika 

Ay, he is mine ; 
My only one. He loved thy piping so. 



ThePiper 37 

Piper 
And I loved his. 

Hans' Wife 

\j trident ly'\ 

Poor little boy ! He 's lame ! 

Piper 
'T is all of us are lame ! But he, he flies. 

Veronika 

Jan, stay here if you will, and hear the pipe. 
At Church-time. 

Piper 

[jo bim~\ 

Wilt thou ? 

Jan 

[.softly} 

Mother lets me stay 
Here with the Lonely Man. 

Piper 

The Lonely Man ? 



38 ThePiper 

[Jan points to the Christ in the Shrine, Ve- 
RONiKA crosses herself, 'The Piper looks 
long at the little boy, 

Veronika 
He always calls Him so. 

Piper 

And so would I. 

Veronika 

It grieves him that the Head is always bowed, 
And stricken. But he loves more to be here 
Than yonder in the church. 

Piper 

And so do I. 

Veronika 

What would you, darling, with the Lonely 

Man? 
What do you wait to see ? 

Jan 

\shyly\ 

To see Him smile. 



ThePiper 39 

\jrbe women murmur, ^he Piper comes down 
further to speak to Veronika. 

Piper 

You are some foreign woman. Are you not ? 
Never from Hamelin ! 



Veronika 

No. 

Axel's Wife 
[to her child~\ 

Then run along. 
And ask the Piper if he *11 play again 
The tune that charmed the rats. 

Another 

They might come back 1 

Old Ursula 

[calling from her window'] 

Piper ! I want the tune that charmed the rats ! 
If they come back, I '11 have my grandson play 
it. 



40 T H E P I P E R 

Piper 
I pipe but for the children. 

Ilse 

\_dropping her doll and picking it up'\ 

Oh, do pipe 
Something for Fridolin ! 

Hansel 

Oh, pipe at me ! 
Nowl 'ma mouse! I '11 eat you up ! Rr — rr ! — 

Children 

Oh, pipe ! Oh, play ! Oh, play and make us 

dance ! 
Oh, play, and make us run away from school ! 

Piper 

Why, what are these ? 

Children 

[scampering round hinf] 

We 're mice, we 're mice, we 're mice ! . . . 
We 're mice, we 're mice ! We '11 eat up every- 
thing ! 



ThePiper 41 

Martin's Wife 

[calling] 

*T is church-time. La, what will the neighbors 
say? 

Ilse 
\JVaving her doll~\ 

Oh, please do play something for Fridolin ! 

Axel's Wife 
Do hear the child. She *s quite the little mother ! 

Piper 

A little mother? Ugh! How horrible. 

That fairy thing, that princess, — no, that Child ! 

A little mother ? 

[To her] 
Drop the ugly thing! 

Martin's Wife 

Now, on my word 1 and what 's amiss with 

mothers ? 
Are mothers horrible ? 
[The Piper is struck with painful memories.] 



42 ThePiper 

Piper 

No, no. But — care 
And want and pain and age . . . 
\l^urns back to them with a bitter change ofvoice\ 

And penny-wealth, — 
And penny - counting. — Penny prides and 

fears — 
Of what the neighbors say the neighbors say ! — 

Martin's Wife 

And were you born without a mother, then ? 

All 

Yes, you there ! Ah, I told you ! He *s no man. 
He 's of the devil. 

Martin's Wife 

Who was your mother, then ? 

Piper 

\_jiercely\ 

Mine ! — Nay, I do not know. For when I saw 

her. 
She was a thing so trodden, lost and sad. 



ThePiper 43 

I cannot think that she was ever young, 

Save in the cherishing voice. — She was a 

stroller ; 
My father was a stroller. — So, you have it ! 
And since she clave to him, and hunger too, 
The Church's ban was on her. — Either live. 
Mewed up forever, — she ! to be a nun ; 
Or keep her life-long wandering with the 

wind; 
The very name of wife stript from her troth. 
That was my mother. — And she starved and 

sang; 
And like the wind, she roved and lurked and 

shuddered 
Outside your lighted windows, and fled by, 
Storm-hunted, trying to outstrip the snow. 
South, south, and homeless as a broken bird, — 
Limping and hiding! — And she fled, and 

laughed. 
And kept me warm ; and died ! To you, a 

Nothing ; 
Nothing, forever, oh, you well-housed mothers! 
As always, always for the lighted windows 
Of all the world, the Dark outside is nothing ; 
And all that limps and hides there in the dark ; 
Famishing, — broken, — lost ! 



44 ThePiper 

And I have sworn 
For her sake and for all, that I will have 
Some justice, all so late, for wretched men. 
Out of these same smug towns that drive us 

forth 
After the show ! — Or scheme to cage us up 
Out of the sunlight ; like a squirrel's heart 
Torn out and drying in the market-place. 
My mother ! Do you know what mothers 

are? — 
Your children ! Do you know them ? Ah, not 

you! 
There 's not one here but it would follow me, 
For all your bleating ! 

Axel's Wife 

Kuno, come away! 
\_ne children cling to him. He smiles down 
triumphantly. 

Piper 

Oho, Oho ! Look you ? — You preach — I pipe I 
\_Reenter the men, with Kurt <^;/^ Jacobus, 

from the Rathaus, murmuring dubiously. 
\_^he Piper sets down Jan and stands forth^ 
smiling. 



ThePiper 45 

Jacobus 

[smootbly~\ 

H'm ! My good man, we have faithfully de- 
bated 
Whether your vision of so great a sum 
Might be fulfilled, — as by some miracle. 
But no. The moneys we administer 
Will not allow it; nor the common weal. 
Therefore, for your late service, here you have 
Full fifteen guilders, 

\_Holding forth a purse] 

and a pretty sum 
Indeed, for piping ! 

Kurt 

\_ominously~\ 

Take them ! 

Jacobus 

Either that. 
Or, ro speak, truly, nothing ! 

\^he Piper is motionless] 
Come, come. Nay, count them, if you will. 

Kurt 

Time goes ! 



46 ThePiper 

Piper 

Ay. And your oath ? 

Kurt 

No more; Enough. 
\_^bere is a sound of organ music from the 
Minster^ 

Veronika 

\beseechingly ] 

Ah, Kurt ! 
Kurt 

\_savagely to the crowd"] 

What do ye, mewling of this fellow's rights? 
He hath none! — Wit ye well, he is a stroller, 
A wastrel, and the shadow of a man ! 
Ye waste the day and dally with the law. 
Such have no rights ; not in their life nor body ! 
We are in no wise bound. Nothing is his. 
He may not carry arms ; nor have redress 
For any harm that men should put on him. 
Saving to strike a shadow on the wall ! 
He is a Nothing, by the statute-book ; . 
And, by the book, so let him live or die. 
Like to a masterless dog ! 



ThePiper 47 

\_^he Piper stands motionless with head up- 
raised^ not looking at Kurt. T^he people^ 
half-cowed^ half- doubting^ murmur and 
draw back. Lights appear in the Minster; 
the music continues, Kurt and Jacobus 
lead in the people. Jacobus picks up the 
money-purse and takes it with him. 

Voices 

[laughing, drunkenly~\ 

One thousand guilders to a ' masterless dog ' ! 

\Others laugh too, pass by, with pity and 
derision for the Piper, and echoes of 
' Masterless Dog ! ' Exeunt Women 
and Men to the Minster. 

Only the children are left, dancing round the 
motionless figure of the Piper. 

Children 

Oh, pipe again ! Oh, pipe and make us dance! 
Oh, pipe and make us run away from school ! 
Oh, pipe and make believe we are the mice! 

\_He looks down at them. He looks up at 
the houses. T^hen he signs to them, with 
his finger on his lips; and begins, very 



48 ThePiper 

softly^ to pipe the Kinder-spell, 'The old 
Claus and Ursula in the windows seem 
to doze. 

The children stop firsts and look at him, fas- 
cinated ; then they laugh, drowsily, and 
creep closer, — Jan always near. They 
crowd around him. He pipes louder, mov- 
ing backwards, slowly, with magical 
gestures, towards the little by-streets and 
the closed doors. The doors open, every- 
where. 

Out come the children : little ones in night- 
gowns ; bigger ones, with playthings, toy 
animals, dolls. He pipes, gayer and louder. 
They pour in, right and left. Motion and 
music fill the air. The Piper lifts Jan to 
his shoulder {dropping the little crutch) 
and marches off, up the street at the rear, 
piping, in the midst of them all. 

Last, out of the Minster come tumbling two 
little acolytes in red, and after them, Peter 
the Sacristan. He trips over them in his 
amazement and terror; and they are 
gone after the vanishing children before 
the church-people come out. 

The old folks lean from their windows. 



ThePiper 49 

Old Ursula 

The bell, the bell ! the church bell ! They 're 
bewitched ! 
\^Peler rushes to the bell-rope and pulls it, 
'The bell sounds heavily. Reenter^ from 
the church, the citizens by twos and threes 
and scores. 

Old Ursula 

I told ye all, — I told ye ! — Devils* bargains ! 

[The belir\ 

[Kurt, Jacobus, and the others appear, ~\ 

Kurt 

Peter the Sacristan ! Give by the bell. 
What means this clangor ? 

Peter the Sacristan 

They *re bewitched ! bewitched ! 
[Still pulling and shouting."] 

Ursula 
They 're gone ! 

Kurt 
Thy wits ! 



50 ThePiper 

Old Claus 

They 're gone — they 're gone — they *re gone ! 

Peter the Sacristan 

The children ! 

Ursula 

— With the Piper ! They 're bewitched ! 
I told ye so. 

Old Claus 

— I saw it with these eyes ! 
He piped away the children. 

\Horror in the crowd. They bring out lan- 
terns and candles. Veronika holds up 
the forgotten crutch. 

Veronika 

Jan — my Jan! 

Kurt 

\to her'] 

Thy boy ! But mine, my three, all fair and 
straight. — 



The Piper 51 

Axel's Wife 

\_furiously to him~\ 

'T was thy false bargain, thine ; who would not 

pay 
The Piper. — But we pay ! 

Peter the Sacristan 

Bewitched, bewitched ! 
The boys ran out — and I ran after them. 
And something red did trip me — 't was the 

Devil, , 
The Devil ! 

Old Ursula 

Ah, ring on, and crack the bell : 
Ye '11 never have them back. — I told ye so ! 

[T^be bell clangs incessantly,^ 



Curtain 



Act II 



Act II 

Scene I : Inside ' the Hollow Hill' 

A great y dim-lighted, cavernous place, which shows 
signs of masonry. It is part cavern and part 
cellarage of a ruined, burned-down and for- 
gotten old monastery in the hills. — l^he only 
entrance (at the centre rear), a ramshackle 
wooden door, closes against a flight of rocky 
steps, — Light comes from an opening in the 
roof, and from the right, where a faggot-fire 
glows under an iron pot, — The scene reaches 
{right and left) into dim corners, where sleep- 
ing children lie curled up together like kittens. 

By the fire sits the Piper, on a tree-stump seat, 
stitching at a bit of red leather. At his feet 
is a row of bright-colored small shoes, set 
two and two. He looks up now and then, to 
recount the children, and goes back to work, 
with quizzical despair. 

Left, sits a group of three forlorn Strollers, One 
nurses a lame knee ; one, evidently dumb, 



56 ThePiper 

talks in signs to the others ; one is munch- 
ing bread and cheese out of a wallet. All 
have the look of hunted and hungry men, 
'They speak only in whispers to each other 
throughout the scene ; but their hoarse laugh- 
ter breaks out now and then over the bird- 
like ignorance of the children, 
A shaft of sunlight steals through the hole in the 
roof, Jan, who lies nearest the Piper, wakes 
up, 

Jan 

OH, 
\T^he Piper turns'\ 
Oh, I thought ... I had a dream ! 

Piper 

\_softly-\ 

Ahe? 

Jan 

I thought ... I dreamed . . . somebody wanted 
me. 

Piper 
Soho ! 



The Piper 57 

Jan 

[earnestly] 

I thought . . . Somebody Wanted me. 

Piper 

How then? 

\With watchful tenderness.'] 

Jan 

I thought I heard Somebody crying. 

Piper 

Pfui ! — What a dream. — Don't make me cry 
again. 

Jan 

Oh, was it youP — Oh, yes ! 

Piper 

\_apart^ tensely] 

No Michael yet ! 
[Jan begins to laugh softly ^ in a bewildered 
way ; then grows quite happy and forget- 
ful. While the other children waken^ he 



58 The Piper 

reaches for the pipe and tries to blow upon 
ity to the Piper's amusement, Ilse and 
Hansel, the Butcher s children^ wake, 

Ilse 
Oh! 

Hansel 
— Oh! 

Piper 
Ahe? 

Ilse 
I thought I had a dream. 

Piper 
Again ? 

Ilse 
... It was some lady, calling me. 

Hansel 

Yes, and a fat man called us to come quick; 
A fat man, he was crying — about me ! 
That same fat man I dreamt of, yesterday. 



ThePiper 59 

Piper 

Come, did you ever see a fat man cry, 
About a little Boy? 

\jrbe Strollers are convulsed with hoarse 
mirth. 

Hansel 

No, — Never. 

Ilse 

Never ! 
Oh, what a funny dream! 

\l^hey giggle together."] 

\jrhe Piper silences the Strollers ^with a ges- 
ture of warning towards the rocky door. 

Piper 

\to himself] 

'T is Hans the Butcher. 

\fro the Children] 

Well, what did he say ? 

Hansel 

' Come home J come home^ come home I ' But I did n't 

go. 
I don't know where . . . Oh, what a funny dream! 



6o ThePiper 

Ilse 

Mine was a bad dream! — Mine was a lovely 

lady 
And she was by the river, staring in. 

Piper 

You were the little gold-fish, none could catch. 
Oh, what a funny dream ! . . . 
\_Apart^ anxiously] 

No Michael yet. 
\_Aloud'] 
Come, bread and broth ! Here — not all, three 

at a time ; 
*T is simpler. Here, you kittens. Eat awhile; 
Then — 

f^RuDi wakes,"] 

RUDI 

Oh ! I had a dream, — an awful dream ! 

\_The Piper takes Jan on his knee and feeds 
him J after ladling out a big bowl of broth 
from the kettle for the Children^ and giv- 
ing them bread. 



The Piper 6i 

Piper 
Oh ! oh ! I had a dream ! 

Children 

Oh, tell It to us ! 

Piper 

I dreamed ... a Stork . . . had nested in 
my hat. 

Children 
Oh! 

Piper 

And when I woke — 

Children 

You had — 

Piper 

One hundred children ! 

Children 
Oh, it came true ! Oh, oh ; it all came true ! 



62 ThePiper 

The Strollers 

Ah, ho, hoj ho ! 

\jrhe dumb one rises ^ stretches^ and steals 
toward the entrance^ stopping to slip a 
blind-patch over one eye. The Piper goes 
to him with one stride^ seizing him by the 
shoulder. 

Piper 

\to himy and the others^ apart~\ 

Look you. — No Michael yet I — And he is 

gone 
Full three days now, — three days. If he be 

caught. 
Why then, — the little ravens shall be fed! 

\_Groans from the three~\ 
Enough that Cheat-the-Devil leaked out too ; — 
No foot but mine shall quit this fox-hole 

now ! 
And you, — think praise for once, you have no 

tongue. 
And keep these magpies quiet. [fTurns away. 
\_To himself~\ 

Ah, that girl. 
The Burgomeister's Barbara ! But for her. 



ThePiper 63 

And moon-struck Michael with his 'one more 

look ' ! 
Where is he now ? — And where are we? 

\jrurning back to the Children] So, so. 

[ ^be Strollers huddle together, with looks 
of renewed anxiety and wretchedness. — 
^heir laughter at the Children breaks out 
forlornly now and then, — 'The Piper 
shepherds the Children, but with watchful 
eyes and ears toward the entrance always, 
— His action grows more and more tense, 

RUDI 

\_over his broth~\ 

Oh, I remember now ! — Before I woke . . . 
Oh, what an awful dream ! 

Ilse 

Oh, tell us, Rudi, — 
Oh, scare us, — Rudi, scare us ! — 

Rudi 

[bursting into tears] 

, , , Lump was dead! 
Lump, Lump ! — [_The Children wail. 



64 ThePiper 

Piper 

\_dis traded^ 
Who's Lump ? — 

RUDI 

Our Dog ! 

Piper 

\jbocked and pained~\ 

The Dog! — No, no. 
Heaven save us — I forgot about the dogs ! 

RuDi 

He Wanted me; — and I always wasn't there! 
And people tied him up, — and other people 
Pretended that he bit. — He never bites ! 
He Wanted me, until it broke his heart. 
And he was dead ! 

Piper 

[struggling with his emotion'] 

And then he went to heaven, 
To chase the happy cats up all the trees ; — 
Little white cats ! ... He wears a golden 
collar . . . 



ThePiper 65 

And sometimes — [_^side] — I 'd forgot about 

the dogs ! 
Well, dogs must suffer, so that men grow wise. 
'T was ever so. 

\_He turns to give Jan ^ piping less on. "^ 

Children 

Oh, what a funny dream ! 
\jSuddenly he lifts his hand, 'They listen, and 
hear a dim sound of distant chanting, going 
by on some neighboring road. The Piper 
is puzzled ; the Strollers are plainly de- 
pressed, 

Jan 

What is it ? 

Piper 

People ; passing down below. 
In the dark valley. 

\He looks at the Children fixe dly'\ 

Do you want to see them ? 

Children 

Don't let them find us ! What an ugly noise. — 
No, no — don't let them come ! 



66 The Piper 

Piper 

Hark ye to me. 

Some day I 'II take you out with me to play; 
High in the sun, — close to the water-fall. . . . 
And we will make believe — We 'II make believe 
We 're hiding I . . . 

\jrbe Strollers rock with mirth,'\ 

Children 
Yes, yes ! Oh, let us make believe ! 

Strollers 
Oho, ho, ho ! — A make-believe ! — Ho, ho ! 

Piper 

But, if you 're good, — yes, very, very soon 
I '11 take you, as I promised, — 

Children 

— Gypsies, oh ! 
Piper 

Yes, with the gypsies. We shall go at night. 
With just a torch — 

[Watching them.~\ 



The Piper 67 

Children 
Oh! 

Piper 

Like fire-flies ! Will-o*-the-wisps ! 
And make believe we *re hiding, all the way. 
Till we come out into a sunny land, — 
All vines and sunlight, yes, and men that sing ! 
Far, far away — forever. 
[Gives Ilse ^ i^owl to feed the other children^ 

[Jan pipes a measure of the Kinder-spell, 
brokenly, 'The Piper turns. 

So! Thou 'It be 
My master, some day. Thou shalt pipe for me. 

Jan 

[piping] 

Oh, was n't that one beautiful ? — Now you ! 

Piper 

[taking the pipe] 

The rainbow-bridge by day ; 

— And borrow a shepherd-crook! 
At night we take to the Milky Way ; 
And then we follow the brook I 



68 ThePiper 

We 'II follow the brook^ whatever way 
'I'he brook shall sing, or the sun shall say. 

Or the mothering wood-dove coos ! 
And what do I care, what else I wear. 

If I keep my rainbow shoes I 

\He points to the little row of bright shoes, 
1'he Children scream with joy. Ilse and 
Hansel run back. 

Children 

Oh dear ! What lovely shoes ! Oh, which 

are mine ? 
Oh ! Oh ! — What lovely shoes ! Oh, which 

are mine ? 

Piper 

Try, till you see. 

[I'aking up a little red pair'\ 

But these, — these are for Jan. 
[Jan is perched on the tree-stump, shy and 
silent with pleasure. 

Ilse 
Oh, those are best of all ! And Jan — 



The Piper 69 

Piper 

And Jan 
Is not to trudge, like you. Jan is to wear 
Beautiful shoes, and shoes made most of all. 
To look at ! 

IfTakes up a pair of bird's wings,'] 

Children 

\_squealing~\ 

Oh ! Where did you find the wings ? 
Bird's wings ! 

Piper 

There was some hunter in the woods, 
Who killed more birds than he could carry 

home. 
He did not want these, — though the starling 

did, - 
But could not use them more ! And so, — 
\_Fastening one to each heeT\ 

And so, — 
They trim a little boy. 

\Puts them on Jan. He is radiant. He 
stretches out his legs and pats the feath- 
ers. 



yo ThePiper 

Children 

[^trying on theirs and capering] 

O Jan ! — O Jan ! 
Oh ! see my shoes ! 

\_ne Piper looks at Jan.] 

Piper 
Hey day, what now? 

Jan 

I wish . . . 

Piper 

What do you wish ? Wish for it ! — It shall 
come. 
[Jan pulls him closer and speaks shyly ^ 

Jan 

I wish — that I could show them — to the 

Man, 
The Lonely Man. 

\l^he Piper looks at him and backs away ; 
sits down helplessly and looks at him again. 
Oh, can I? — 



The Piper 71 

Piper 

Thou ! — 'T would make me a proud man. 

Jan 

Oh ! it would make Him smile ! 

[Tbe Children dance and caper, Trude 
wakes up and joins them, Sound of distant 
chanting again, 

Trude 

— I had a dream ! 

Piper 

A dream ! 

[Pretending to he amazed. Reflects, a moment~\ 

I know ! — Oh, what a funny dream ! 

\T!he Children all fall a-laughing when he 

does, — Noise without, Cheat-the-D evil's 

voice crying, ' Cuckoo — Cuckoo ! ' 

Cheat-the-Devil 

Quick, quick ! — I Ve something here. 

\_The others roll away a big stone, and enter 
by the wooden door (rear), Cheat-the- 



72 ThePiper 

Devil. He does not wear his red hood. 
He has a garland round his neck, and a 
basket on his arm. 



Piper 

[sharply to himself] 

No Michael yet ! 
[To Cheat-the-Devil] 
Michael ! — Where 's Michael ? 

Cheat-the-Devil 

Look you, — you must wait. 
We must be cunning. — There 's a squirrel, 

mark you, 
Hopped after me ! He would have found us 

out. 
I wanted him ; I loved him. But I ran. 
For once a squirrel falls a-talking. — Ah ! 
Look what I have. — Guess, guess ! 

[Showing his basket to the Children,] 

Children 

Cakes ! 
[He is sad] 



ThePiper 73 

Shoes ! 
\_He is sadder] 

Then — honey 1 
\_He radiantly undoes his basket^ and displays 
a honeycomb. 'The Strollers Joo^ rush upon 
him. 

Piper 

Ah, Cheat-the-Devil ! They would crop your 

ears. 
Where had you this ? 

Cheat-the-Devil 

Why, such a kind old farmer! 
He*d left his bee-hives; they were all alone; 
And the bees know me. So I brought this for 

you; 
I knew They 'd like it. — Oh, you 're happy 

now ! 

Piper 

But Michael, — have they caught him ? 

Cheat-the-Devil 

Oh, not they! 
I heard no word of Michael ; Michael 's safe ! 



74 ThePiper 

Once on the road I met a countryman, 
Asked me the way. And not a word I spoke ! 
'Tis far the wisest. Twenty riddles he asked 

me. 
I smiled and wagged my head. Anon cries he, 
'This Fool is deaf and dumb!' — That made 

me angry, 
But still I spoke not. — And I would not hurt 

him ! 
He was a bad man. But I liked the mule. — 
Now am I safe ! — Now am I home at last ! 

Piper 

*St. — Met you any people on the way. 
Singing ? 

Cheat-the-Devil 

No, growling, — growling dreary psalms 
All on a sunny day ! Behind the hedges, 
I saw them go. They go from Hamelin, now ; 
And I know why ! — 

\T^he Piper beckons him away from the 
Children, 

The mayor's Barbara 
Must go to Rudersheim, to be a Nun ! 



The Piper 75 

Piper 
To be a Nun ! 

Cheat-the-Devil 

A penance for them all. 
She weeps; but she must go! All they, you see, 
Are wroth against him. — He must give bis 
child — 

Piper 

A nun! 

Cheat-the-Devil 

[_nodding\ 

Forever! — She, who smiled at Michael. 
Look you, she weeps ! They are bad people 

all; — 
Nothing like these. [Looking at the Children, 
These are all beautiful. 

. Piper 

To lock her up ! A maiden, shut away 
Out of the light. To cage her there for life, 
Cut off her hair ; pretend that she is dead ! — 
Horrible, horrible ! No, I '11 not endure it. 



76 ThePiper 

I '11 end this murder. — He shall give up his ; 
But never so ! — Not so ! — While I do live 
To let things out of cages ! — Tell me, quick ! — 
When shall it happen? 



Cheat-the-Devil 

Why, it falls to-day. 
I saw two herds of people going by. 
To be there well aforetime, for the sight. 
And she is going last of all, at noon; 
All sparkling, like a Bride. — I heard them tell. 

Piper 

No, never, never I — No, it shall not be! 
Hist! — 

[Steps heard scrambling down the entrance- 
way. 

\Enter Michael in mad haste. T^hey rush 
upon him with exultation and relief. He 
shakes them off^ doggedly. 

Piper 

So ! — You had like to have hanged us. 



The Piper 77 

Michael 

— What of that ? 

Piper 

All for a lily maiden. 

Michael 

Ah, — thy pipe ! 
How will it save her ? — Save her I — Tune thy 

pipe 
To compass that! — You do not know — 

Piper 

I know. 
Tell me no more. — I say it shall not be ! 
To heel, lad ! No, I follow, — none but I ! 
Go, — go ! [Michael rushes out again, 

[Ti5 Cheat-the-Devil, pointing to the 
Children'] 
Do you bide here and shepherd these. 

Children 

Where are you going ? — Take us too ! — us 

too ! — 
Oh, take us with you ? — Take us ! 



j8 ThePiper 

Piper 

[distracted^ 

No, no, no ! 
You shall be kittens all. And chase your tails. 
Till I come back ! — So here ! 

[Catches Hansel and affixes to bis little 
jacket a long strip of leather for a tail; 
then whirls him about. 

Children 

Me too! — Me too! 

Cheat-the-Devil 

Let me make tails, — let me ! 

[Seizing shears and leather^ 

Piper 

[wildly\ 

Faith, and you shall. 

A master tailor! — Come, here 's food for 

thought. 

Think all, — 

[fTo the Strollers'] 

And hold your tongues, there ! — 

If a Cat — 



The Piper 79 

If a Cat have — as all men say — Nine Lives, 

And if Nine Tailors go to make a Man, 

How long, then, shall it take one Man turned 
Tailor 

To keep a Cat in Tails, until she die ? 

[Cheat-the-Devil looks subdued ; the chil- 
dren whirl about. 

But here 's no game for Jan. — Stay ! Some- 
thing else. — 
\He runs to a wooden coffer^ rear^ and takes 
out a long crystal on the end of a strings 
with a glance at the shaft of sunlight from 
the roof. 'The Children watch. 

Be quiet, now. — Chase not your tails too far. 

Till I come home again. 

Children 
Come home — come home ! 

Piper 

And you shall see my — 

Children 

Something Beautiful 1 
Oh, oh, what is it ? — Oh, and will it play ? 
Will it play music? 



8o ThePiper 

Piper 

Yes. 
[He hangs the crystal in the sun, A Rain" 
how strikes the wall, 

— The best of all ! 

Cheat-the-Devil, Jan, Children 
Oh, oh, how beautiful, — how beautiful ! 

Piper 

And hear it pipe and call, and dance, and sing. 
Heja! — And hark you all. You have to 

mind — 
The Rainbow ! 

[He climbs out, pipe in hand, ne Children 
whirl about after their tails. — Cheat- 
the-Devil, and Jan on his tree-stump, 
open-mouthed with happiness, watch the 
Rainbow, 



Curtain 



The Piper 8i 

Scene II : ^he Cross-ways : on the Long Road 
to Ruder sheim. 

A wooded country : high hills at back. 'The place 
is wild and overgrown^ like the haunted spot 
it is reputed to be. In the foreground, right, a 
ruined stone well appears, in a mass of weeds 
and vines. Opposite, left, tall trees and dense 
thickets. Where the roads cross {to left of 
centre), stands a large, neglected shrine, with 
a weather-worn figure of Christ, — again the 
* Lonely Man,' — facing towards Hamelin. — 
The stage is empty, at rise of the curtain ; but 
the sound of chanting from burghers just gone 
by fades slowly, on the road to Ruder sheim. 

From the hillside at the rear comes the Piper, 
wrapped in a long green cloak, his pipe in 
his hand. He looks after the procession, and 
back to Hamelin. — Enter, springing from the 
bushes to the right, Michael, who seizes him. 

Their speech goes breathlessly. 







Michael 

UICK! — tellme- 



PlPER 

— Patience. 



82 ThePiper 

Michael 

Patience ? — Death and hell ! 
Oh, save her — save her! Give the children 
back. 

Piper 

Never. Have you betrayed us ? 

Michael 

I ! — betrayed ? 
Piper 
So, so, lad. 

Michael 
But to save her — 

Piper 

There 's a way, — 
Trust me ! I save her, or we swing together 
Merrily, in a row. — - How did you see her ? 

Michael 

By stealth: two days ago, at evening. 

Hard by the vine-hid wall of her own garden. 



ThePiper 83 

I made a warbling like a nightingale ; 
And she came out to hear. 



Piper 

A serenade ! 



Under the halter ! 



Michael 

Hush. — A death-black night, 
Until she came. — Oh, how to tell thee, lad! 
She came, — she came, not for the nightingale. 
But even dreaming that it would be I ! 

Piper 
She knew you ? — We are trapped, then. 

Michael 

No, not so ! 
She smiled on me. — Dost thou remember how 
She smiled on me that day? Alas, poor maid. 
She took me for some noble in disguise ! 
And all these days, — she told me, — she had 

dreamed 
That I would come to save her ! 



84 ThePiper 

Piper 

Said she this? 

Michael 

All this — all this, and more ! . . . 

What could lies do ? — I lied to her of thee ; 

I swore I knew not of thy vanishment, 

Nor the lost children. But I told her true, 

I was a stroller and an outcast man 

That hid there, like a famished castaway. 

For one more word, without a hope, — a hope; 

Helpless to save her. 

Piper 

And she told thee then, 
She goes to be a nun? 

Michael 

Youth to the grave ! 
And I — vile nothing — cannot go to save 

her, 
Only to look my last — 

Piper 

Who knows ? 



ThePiper 85 

Michael 

[bitterly] 

Ah, thou! — 

Piper 

Poor Nightingale ! 

[Fingers his pipe ^ noiselessly,'] 

Michael 

[rapt with grief] 

Oh, but the scorn of her ! 

Piper 

She smiled on thee. 

Michael 

Until she heard the truth : — 
A juggler, — truly, — and no wandering knight ! 
Oh, and she wept. 

[Wildly] 
Let us all hang together. 

Piper 

Thanks. Kindly spoken. — Not this afternoon ! 



86 ThePiper 

Michael 
Thou knowest they are given up for dead ? 

Piper 



Truly. 

Bewitched? 



Michael 

Piper 
So are they. 

Michael 

Sold to the Devil? 



Piper 

\_Pacing softly up and down, with the rest- 
less cunning of a squirrel at watch~\ 

Pfui ! But who else ? Of course. This same old 

Devil ! 
This kind old Devil takes on him all we do ! 
Who else is such a refuge in this world ? 
Who could have burned the abbey in this place. 
Where holy men did live ? Why, 't was the 

Devil ! 



ThePiper 87 

And who did guard us one secluded spot 
By burying a wizard at this cross-ways ? — 
So none dare search the haunted, evil place ! 
The Devil for a landlord! — So say I ! 
And all we poor, we strollers, for his tenants; 
We gypsies and we pipers in the world. 
And a few hermits and sword-swallowers. 
And all the cast-aways that Holy Church 
Must put in cages — cages — to the end ! 

l^T'o Michael^ who is overcome^ 
Take heart ! I swear, — by all the stars that 

chime ! 
I '11 not have things in Cages ! 

Michael 

Barbara ! 
So young, — so young and beautiful ! 

Piper 

And fit 
To marry with friend Michael ! 

Michael 

Do not mock. 



88 The Piper 

Piper 
I mock not. — (Baa — Baa — Barbara !) 

Michael 

Ay, she laughed. 
On that first day. But still she gazed. — I saw 
Her, all the while ! I swallowed — 

Piper 

Prodigies ! • 
A thousand swallows, and no summer yet ! 
But now, — 't is late to ask, — why did you not 
Swallow her father ? — That had saved us all. 

Michael 

They will be coming soon. They will cut off 
All her bright hair, — and wall her in forever. 

Piper 

Never. They shall not. 

Michael 

Will you give them back. 

Now F 



ThePiper 89 

Piper 
I will never give them back. Be sure. 

Michael 

And she is made an offering for the town ! 
I heard it of the gossips. — They have sworn 
Jacobus shall not keep his one ewe-lamb 
While all the rest go childless. 

Piper 

And I swear 
That he shall give her up, — to none but thee ! 

Michael 

You cannot do it ! 

Piper 

Have I lived like Cain, 
But to make good one hour of Life and Sun ? 
And have I got this Hamelin in my hands, 
To make it pay its thousand cruelties 
With such a fool's one-more ? , . . 

— You know right well, 
'T was not the thousand guilders that I wanted 



go ThePiper 

For thee, or me, or any ! — Ten would serve. 
But there it ached ; there^ in the money-bag 
That serves the town of Hamehn for an heart ! 
That stab was mortal ! And I thrust it deep. 
Life, life, I wanted ; safety, — sun and wind ! — 
And but to show them how that daily fear 
They call their faith, is made of blasphemies 
That would put out the Sun and Moon and 

Stars, 
Early, for some last judgment! 

\He laughs up to the tree-tops\ 

And the Lord, 
Where will He get His harpers and singing-men 
And them that laugh for joy ? — From Hamelin 

guilds ? — 
Will you imagine Kurt the Councillor 
Trying to sing ? 

\He looks at his pipe again ; then listens in- 
tently. 

Michael 

His lean throat freeze ! — But she — 
Barbara ! Barbara ! — 



Piper 

Patience. She will come, 



Dressed like a bride. 



I mock not. 



The Piper 91 

Michael 

Ah, do not mock me so. 

Piper 

Michael 
She will never look at me. 



Piper 

Rather than be a nun, I swear she will 
Look at thee twice, — and with a long, long look. 
\Chant approaches in the distance^ coming 
from Hamelin, 

Voices 

Dies iraCy dies ilia 
Solvet saeclum in favilla^ 
'Teste David cum Sibylla, 

^uantus tremor est futurus^ 
^ando judex est venturus, 
Cuncta strict e discussurus ! 

Piper 

Bah, how they whine ! Why do they drag it so ? 



92 ThePiper 

Michael 

[^overcome] 

Oh, can it be the last of all ? O Saints ! — 
O blessed Francis, Ursula, Catherine ! 
Hubert — and Crispin — Pantaleone — Paul ! 
George o' the Dragon ! — Michael the Arch- 
angel ! 

Piper 

Michael Sword-eater, canst not swallow a chant ? 
The well, the well ! — Take care. 

Voices 
[nearer] 

Inter oves locum praesta^ 
Et ab hoedis me sequestra^ ■ 
Statutus in parte dextra, 

Confutatis maledictis^ 
Flammis acrihus addictis : 
Voca me cum henedictis, 

[Michael climbs down the ancient well, 

reaching his head up warily, to see, 
I'he Piper waves to him debonairly, points 



The Piper 93 

to the tree-tops^ left^ and stands a moment 
showing in his face his disapproval of the 
music. He fingers his pipe. As the hymn 
draws near, he scrambles among the bushes^ 
lefty and disappears. 

Enter slowly, chanting, the company of burgh- 
ers from Hamelin, — men together first, 
headed hy priests ; then the women. — An- 
SELM and all the townsfolk appear {saving 
Veronika, the wife (j/'Kurt); Jacobus 
is meek; Kurt very stern. — As they 
appear, the piping of the Dance-spell begins 
softly, high in air. The hymn wavers; 
when the first burghers reach the centre 
of the stage, it breaks down. 

They look up, bewildered ; then, with every 
sign of consternation, struggle, and vacant 
fear, they begin to dance, willy-nilly. Their 
faces work ; they struggle to walk on ; but 
it is useless. The music whirls them irre- 
sistibly into a rhythmic pace of \ time, and 
jogs their words, when they try to speak, 
into the same dance-measure. One by one, 
— two and two they go, — round and round 
like corks at first, with every sign of strug- 
gle and protest, then off, on the long road 



94 The Piper 

to Ruder sheim. Fat priests waltz together. 
— Kurt the fierce and Jacobus the sleek 
hug each other in frantic endeavor to be 
released. 'Their words jolt insanely. 



{ 



Kurt, Jacobus 

No, no. — No, no — No, no. — No, no ! 
Yes, yes. — I, yes. — Yes, yes. — Yes, yes 1 

Some 



" La — cry mo s — a — Dies — /// — 
Bewitched — the Devil ! — bewitched — be- 
witched ! 
I will not — will not — will — I will ! 
No, no — but where ! — Help — help ! — To 
arms ! 

Others 

r Suppli — canti — suppli — Oh ! 
\ To Hamelin — back — to Hamelin — stay! 
No, no ! — No, no, — Away, — away ! 

\_They dance out^ convulsively, towards Ru- 
der sheim. Kurt and Jacobus, still whirl- 
ing, cry, — 



The Piper 95 

Jacobus, Kurt 

J Yes, yes ! — yes, yes ! — Let go — let go — 

No ! ... No ! 
[_Exeunt left^ dancing. 



L No, no ! — I will not — No ! ... No ! 



Others 

Keep time, keep time! Have mercy! — 

Time ! 
Oh, let me — go ! — Let go — let go ! 
Yes, yes — Yes, yes — No, no — no — no ! 

[Barbara appears^ pale and beautiful; — 
richly dressed in white ^ with flowing locks. 
She is wan and exhausted. — l^he dance- 
mania^ as it seizes her^ makes her circle 
slowly and dazedly with a certain pitiful 
silliness. 'The nuns and monks accompanying 
her point in horror. But they^ too^ dance off 
with each other ^ willy-nilly^ — like leaves 
in a tempest. Barbara is left alone ^ still 
circling slowly. The piping sounds softer. 
She staggers against a tree, and keeps on 
waving her hands and turning her heady 
vaguely, in time. 

Michael looks forth from the well ; then 
climbs out and approaches her. 



96 The Piper 

Michael 

She is so beautiful, — how dare I tell her ? 

My heart, how beautiful ! The blessed 
saint ! . . . 

Fear nothing, fairest Lady. — You are saved. 
\_Sbe looks at him unseeingly^ and continues to 
dance. — He holds out his arms to stop her. 

Pray you, the danger 's gone. Pray you, take 
breath ! 

Poor, shining dove, — I would not hold thee 
here. 

Against thy wish. — 'T is Michael, the sword- 
eater. 

\1^ he piping ceases. '\ 



Barbara 
\murmuring'\ 



Yes, yes — I must — I must — I must . . 
[Reenter the Fiper from the thickets."] 



Michael 

Look, I will guard you like a princess, here ; 
Yes, like Our Lady*s rose-vine. 



The Piper 97 

Barbara 

[gasping] 

Ah, my heart ! 

\_Tbe Piper comes towards her. She sees 

him and holds out her armSy crying : — 

Oh, he has saved me ! — I am thine — thine — 

thine ! 

[Falls into his arms half -fainting, *The 

Piper stands amazed^alarmed-y chagrined. 

Piper 

Mine? 

Michael 

\_furiously\ 

'Thine ? — So was it ? All a trap ? Cock's 
blood ! 
Thine, thine ! — And thou hast piped her wits 

away. 
Thine ! 

Piper 

[holding her off'\ 

No, not mine ! 



98 T H E Pi P E R 

Barbara 

[/o bim~\ 

Why did you steal me hence ? 
When did you love me ? — Was it on first sight ? 

Piper 

\confounded'\ 

I5 love thee ? 

Michael 

— Knave! thief! liar! 

Piper 

— Give me breath. 
[Holds off Barbara gently. 1 

Barbara 

Where are you taking me ? 

Piper 

I ? Taking thee ? 

Michael 

[to her\ 

He shall not steal thee ! 



The Piper 99 

Barbara 

[in a daze~\ 

I must follow him. 

Piper 

No! 'T is too much. You shall not follow me ! 
I '11 not be followed. — Damsel, sit you down. 
Here is too much ! I love you not. 

Barbara 

[_wonderingly~\ 

You do not? 
Why did you pipe to me ? 

Michael 

— And steal her wits, 
Stealer of all the children ! 

Barbara 

\yaguely~\ 

Are they safe? 

Piper 
[to Michael] 

Oh, your good faith ! — 

[^0 her] 

They 're safe. 



loo The Piper 

Barbara 

I knew — I knew It ! 

Piper 

And so art thou. But never shall they go 
To Hamelin more ; and never shalt thou go 
To be a nun. 

Barbara 

To be a nun, — no, no ! Ah me, I *m spent. 
Sir, take me with you. 

Michael 

\still enraged^ to the Piper] 

Rid her of the spell ! 
Is this thy pledge? 

Piper 

\_distracted'\ 

I do but rub my wits- — 
To think — to think. 

\^o himself^ 

What shall I do with her, 
Now that she 's here ! — Suppose her bound to 
stay ! 



The Piper ioi 

[Xo them] 
Hearken. — You, Michael^on to Rudersheim — 

Michael 

And leave her here ? No, no ! 

Piper 

Then take the girl. 

Barbara 
To Rudersheim? No, never, never! 

Piper 

Well . . , 
Hearken. — There is the hermit, over the hill. 

[Apart ^ wildly\ 
But how — suppose she will not marry him? 
I will not take her where the children are. 
And yet — 

\An idea strikes him, T'<? her^ 
Hark, now; — hark, now, and tell me truly ; 
Can you spin cloth ? 

Barbara 

\ama-zed'\ 

I? Spin? 



I02 The Piper 



Piper 

Can you make shoes? 



Barbara 
I — / make shoes ! — Fellow ! 

Piper 

So. 

Michael 

Art thou mad ! 

Piper 

With me you may not go ! But you '11 be safe. 
Hearken : — you, Michael, go to Rudersheim ; 
And tell the nuns — 

Barbara 

No, no ! I dare not have it ! 
Oh, they would send and take me! No, no, no ! 

Piper 
Would you go back to Hamelin? 



The Piper 103 

Barbara 

No — no — no ! 
Ah, I am spent. 

[Droops towards the Piper; falters and 
sinks down on the bank beside the well, 
in a swoon, — ne Piper is abashed and 
rueful for the moment, 

Michael 

All this, your work ! 

Piper 

\looking at her closely] 

Not mine. 

This is no charm. It is all youth and grief. 

And weariness. And she shall follow you. — 

Tell the good nuns you found her sore be- 
witched, 

Here in this haunt of 'devils'; — clean dis- 
traught. 

No Church could so receive a dancing nun ! 

Tell them thou art an honest, piteous man 

Desires to marry her. 

Michael 

Marry the Moon! 



I04 ThePiper 

Piper 

No, no, the Moon for me ! — She shall be 

yours ; 
And here she sleeps, until her wits be sound. 

\_He spreads his cloak over her^ gently\ 
The sun *s still high. 'T is barely afternoon. — 

\Looks at the sunshine. A thought strikes 
him with sudden dismay\ 
*T is — no, the time is going ! — On my life, 
I had forgot Them ! — And They will not stay 
After the Rainbow fades. 

Michael 

\confounded'\ 

Art thou moon-mad ? 

Piper 

\madly\ 

No. Stir not ! Keep her safe ! I come anon. 
But first I go. — They '11 not mind Cheat-the- 

Devil ! 
They '11 creep, to find out where the Rainbow 

went. 
I know them ! So would I ! — They '11 all leak 

out! 



The Piper 105 

Michael 

Stay — stay ! 

Piper 
No ; guard her, you ! — Anon, anon ! 

Michael 
But you will pipe her up and after you ! 

Piper 

[_flinging him the pipe from his belf\ 

Do you fear this? Then keep it till I come. 
You bide ! — The Other cannot. 

Michael 

Who? 

Piper 

The RainboWy 
"The Rainbow ! — 

\He runs madly up the hillside y and away.'] 
Curtain 



Act III 



Act III 



Scene : 'The same, later, Barbara lies motionless, 
still sleeping, — Michael, sitting on the 
bank opposite, fingers the pipe with awe and 
wistfulness. He blows softly upon it; then 
looks at the girl hopefully. She does not stir. 

Enter the Piper, from the hills at back. He 
carries a pair of water-jars slung over his 
shoulders, and seems to be in high feather. 

Piper 

[singing'] 

^^\U^ of your cage, 

I M Come out of your cage 

And take your soul on a pilgrimage! 
Pease in your shoes, an if you must ! — 
But out and away, before you 're dust: 
Scribe and Stay-at-home^ 
Saint and Sage, 
Out of your cage. 
Out of your cage! — 



Tio The Piper 

\_He feigns to be terror-struck at sight of the 
pipe in MichaeVs hands'] 
Ho, help ! Good Michael, Michael, loose the 

charm ! 
Michael, have mercy ! I *m bewitched ! — 

Michael 

\^iving him the pipe] 

Cock's faith ! 
Still mocking ! - — Well ye know, it will not play 
Such games for me. 

Piper 

Be soothed, — 'twas as I guessed. 
[Unslings the jars] 
All of them hungry, — and the Rainbow 

going; — 
And Cheat-the-Devil pining in a corner. 
'Twas well I went: they were for leaking out. 
And then, — lopped ears for two! 

Michael 

Oh, that will come. 
Piper 
Never believe it ! We have saved her, look you ; 



The Piper iii 

We save them all ! No prison walls again. 
For anything so young, in Hamelin there. 
Wake her, and see. 

Michael 

Ay, wake her. But for me, 
Her sleep is gentler. 

Piper 

[comfortingly] 

Nay, but wait. — Good faith, 
Wait. We have broke the bars of iron now ; 
Still there are golden ! — 'Tis her very self 
Is caged within herself. Once coax her out. 
Once set her own heart free ! — 

Michael 

Wake her, and see ! 
\The Piper crosses y bumming,'] 

Piper 

Mind your eyes, tune your tongue! 

Let it never he said, but sung, but sungy 

^ Out of your cage, out of your cage ! ' 

Maiden, maiden, — 



112 The Piper 

[He wakes her gently, Barbara sits up^ 
plainly bewildered; then she sees the Piper, 
and says happily : — 

Barbara 

Oh! — you have come to save me. They are 

gone. 
All this, for love of me ! 

Piper 

[ruefully'] 

No, no — I — No! 

Barbara 

You — you are robbers ? 
[Her hands go to the pearls about her neck.] 

Piper 

[indignant] 

No ! Blood on the Moon ! 
This is the maddest world I ever blinked at. — 
Fear nothing, maiden. I will tell you all. 
Come, sit you down ; and Michael shall keep 
watch 



The Piper 113 

From yonder hillock, lest that any pass. 

Fear nothing. None will pass : they are too 

sure 
The Devil hath this cross-ways ! — Sit you 

down. 
Michael watches^ with jealous wistfulnesSy 

from the road {left rear). — Barbara half 

fearfully sits up, on the bank by the well. 

Barbara 

Not love? And yet . . . you do not want my 

pearls ? 
Then why — 

Piper 

For why should all be love or money ? 

Money! Oho, — that mouldy thousand guil- 
ders 

You think of! — But it was your Hamelin 
friends 

That loved the guilders, and not I. 

Barbara 

Then why — 
Why did you steal me hence ? 



114 The Piper 

Piper 

Why did yourself 
Long to be stolen ? 

Barbara 

\_shuddering\ 

Ah ! to be shut up . . . 
Forever, — young — alive ! 

Piper 

Alive and singing ; 
Young, — young; — and four thick walls and 

no more sun, 
No music, and no wandering, and no life ! 
Think you, I would not steal all things alive 
Out of such doom ? — How can I breathe and 

laugh 
While there are things in cages ? — You are 

free; 
And you shall never more go back again. 

Barbara 
And you, who are you then ? 



The Piper 115 

Piper 

How do / know? 
Moths in the Moon! — Ask me a thing in 
reason. 

Barbara 
And 'twas not . . . that you loved me. 

Piper 

Loved thee ? No ! — 
Save but along with squirrels, and bright fish. 
And bubbling water. 

Barbara 

Then where shall I go ? 

Piper 

Oh, little bird, — is that your only song? 

Go ? Everywhere ! Here be no walls, no 

hedges, 
No tolls, no taxes, — rats nor aldermen ! 
Go, say you ? Round the world, and round 

again ! 

[_Apart] 
— Ah, she was Hamelin-born. 



ii6 The Piper 

\_He watches her~\ 

But there's a man, — 
Sky-true, sword-strong, and brave to look upon ; 
One that would thrust his hand in dragon's 

mouth 
For your bright sake ; one that would face the 

Devil, 
Would swallow fire — 

Barbara 
You would? 

Piper 

\_desperately'\ 

/.? — No, not II 
Michael, — yon goodman Michael. 

Barbara 

\_bitterly~\ 

A stroller ! — oh, nought but a wandering 
man. 

Piper 
Well, would you have a man take root, I ask ? 



The Piper 117 

Barbara 

That swallows swords* , ^ ^ 

Piper 

Is he a comely man ? 

Barbaila 
That swallows swords ! — 

Piper 

What's manlier to swallow? 

Did he but swallow pancakes, were that praise ? 

Pancakes and sausage, like your Hamelin yo- 
kels? 

He swallows fire and swords, I say, and more. 

And yet this man hath for a whole noon- 
hour 

Guarded you while you slept; — still as a dove. 

Distant and kind as shadow ; giant-strong 

For his enchanted princess, — even you. 

Barbara 
So you bewitched me, then. 



ii8 The Piper 

Piper 

\_wildly~\ 

How do I know ? 

Barbara 

Where are the children ? 

Piper 

I '11 not tell you that. 
You are too much of Hamelin. 

Barbara 

You bewitched them ! 

Piper 

Yes, so it seems. But how ? — Upon my life, 
'T is more than I know, — yes, a little more. 
\Rapidly : half in earnest and half in whimsy\ 
Sometimes it works, and sometimes no. There 

are 
Some things upon my soul, I cannot do. 
\_Watching her.'] 



The Piper 119 

Barbara 

\_expectantly'\ 

Not even with thy pipe? 

Piper 

Not even so. 
Some are too hard. — Yet, yet, I love to try : 
And most, to try with all the hidden charms 
I have, that I have never counted through. 

Barbara 

\_fascinatecr\ 

Where are they? 

Piper 

[touching bis bearf] 

Here. 

Barbara 

What are they ? 

Piper 

How do I know ? 
If I knew all, why should I care to live ? 



I20 ThePiper 

No, no ! The game is What-Will-Happen- 

Next? 

Barbara 

And what will happen ? 

Piper 

[tantalizingly^ 

Ah ! how do I know ? 
It keeps me searching. 'T is so glad and sad 
And strange to find out. What- Will-Happen- 
Next ! 
And mark you this : the strangest miracle . . . 

Barbara 
Yes! — 

Piper 

Stranger than the Devil or the Judgment; 
Stranger than piping, — even when / pipe ! 
Stranger than charming mice — or even men — 

Barbara 

\with tense expectancy] 

What is it? What? 



The Piper 121 

Piper 
\_watcbing ber\ 

Why, — what may come to pass 
Here in the heart. There is one very charm — 

Barbara 
Oh! 

Piper 

Are you brave ? 

Barbara 

[awe-struck^ 

Oh! 

Piper 

\_slowly~\ 

■ Will you drink the philter ? 

Barbara 
*Tis . . . some enchantment? 

Piper 

\mysteriously~\ 

'T is a love philter. 



122 The Piper 

Barbara 
Oh, tell me first — 

Piper 

Why, sooth, the only charm 
In it, is Love. It is clear well-water. 

Barbara 

[_disappointed'\ 

Only well-water ? 

Piper 

Love is only Love. 
It must be philters, then ? 

\_He comes down smiling and beckons to 
Michael, who draws near, bewildered. 
This lady thirsts 
For magic ! 

\_He ties a long green scarf that he has over 
his shoulder, to a water-jar, and lowers it 
down the old well; while Barbara watches, 
awe-struck. He continues to sing softly » 

Mind your eyes, 
'Tune your tongue ; 



The Piper 123 

Let it never be said. 
But sung, — but sung I — 



Michael 
[to Barbara, timidly] 

I am glad at least, fair lady, 
To think how my poor show did give you plea- 
sure 
That day — that day when — 

Barbara 

Ah ! that day of doom ! 

Michael 
What is your will ? 

Barbara 

[passionately] 

I know not ; and I care not ! 
[Apart] 
Oh, it is true. — And he a sword-eater ! 
[^be Piper hauls up the jar, full of water.] 



124 The Piper 

Piper 

Michael, your cup. 

[Michael gives him a drinking-horn from 
his belt. The Piper Jills it with water, 
solemnly, and turns to Barbara, who is 
at first defiant, then fascinated. 

Maiden, your ears. So: — hearken. 
Before you drmk of this, is it your will 
Forever to be gone from HameHn ? 

Barbara 
I must, — I must. 

Piper 
Your mother? 

Barbara 

\_piteously\ 

I have no mother ; 
Nor any father, more. He gave me up. 

Piper 

That did he! — For a round one thousand 
guilders ! 



The Piper 125 

Weep not, I say. First, loose you, heart and 

shoes. 
From Hamelin. Put off now, the dust, the 

mould. 
The cobble-stones, the little prying windows ; 
The streets that dream o' What the Neighbors 

Say, 
Think you were never born there. Think some 

Breath 
Wakened you early — early on one morning. 
Deep in a Garden (but you knew not whose). 
Where voices of wild waters bubbling ran. 
Shaking down music from glad mountain- 
tops, — 
Where the still peaks were burning in the dawn. 
Like fiery snow, — down into greenest valleys. 
That do off their blue mist only to show 
Some deeper blue, some haunt of violets. 
No voice you heard, nothing you felt or saw. 
Save in your heart, the tumult of young birds, 
A nestful of wet wings and morning-cries. 
Throbbing for flight ! . . . 
Then, — for your Soul, new wakened, felt athirst. 
You turned to where that call of water led. 
Laughing for truth, — all truth and star-like 
laughter ! 



126 ThePiper 

Beautiful water, that will never stay, 
But runs and laughs and sparkles in the heart, 
And sends live laughter trickling everywhere, 
And knows the thousand longings of the Earth ! 
And as you drank it then, so now, drink here ; 
\_He reaches her the horn. She has listened^ 
motionless, like a thing bewitched, her 
eyes fixed and wide, as if she were sleep- 
walking. She drinks, Michael stands 
near, also motionless. When she speaks, it 
is in a younger voice, shy, sweet and full 
of wonder. 
And tell me, — tell me, you, — what happened 

then ? 
What do you see ? 

Barbara 

Ah! — 
\_She looks before her with wide, new eyes,"] 

Piper 
Do you see — a — 

Barbara 

. . . Michael! 



The Piper 127 

Piper 
So ! — And a good one. And you call him ? — 

Barbara 

. . . Michael. 

Piper 

So. — 'Tis a world of wonders, by my faith! — 
What is the fairest thing you see but — 

Barbara 

Michael. 

Piper 

And is he comely as a man should be ? 

And strong? — And wears good promise in his 

eyes. 
And keeps it with his heart and with his hands ? 

\_Sbe nods like a child~\ 
And would you fear to go with him ? — 

Barbara 

No, no ! 
Piper 
Then reach to him that little hand of yours. 



128 The Piper 

[Michael, wonder-struck^ runs to the jar^ 
pours water upon bis band, rubs it off witb 
baste, and falls on bis knees before her, tak- 
ing her band fearfully. 

Barbara 

\_timidly~\ 

And can he talk? — 

Piper 

Yes, yes. — The maid's bewildered. 
Fear nothing. Thou'rt so dumb, man ! — Yes, 

yes, yes. 
Only he kneels ; he cannot yet believe. 
Speak roundly to him. — Will you go with him ? 
He will be gentler to you than a father: 
He would be brothers five, and dearest friend, 
And sweetheart, — ay, and knight and serving- 
man ! 

Barbara 
Yes, yes, I know he will. And can he talk, too ? 

Piper 
Lady, you have bewitched him. 



The Piper 129 

Michael 

Oh ! dear Lady, 
With you — with you, I dare not ope my 

mouth 
Saving to sing, or pray ! 

Piper 

Let it be singing ! 
Lad, 't is a wildered maiden, with no home 
Save only thee ; and she is more a child 
Than yesterday. 

Michael 

Oh, lordly, wondrous world ! — 
How is it. Sweet, you smile upon me now? 

Barbara 

Sure I have ever smiled on thee. How not? 

Art thou not Michael ? — And thou lovest me. 
And I love thee I — If I unloved thee ever. 
It was some spell. — 

\R.apturously\ 

But this, — ah, "This is I ! 
[Michael, on his knees, winds his arms 
about her. 



130 The Piper 

Piper 

\_softly-\ 

It is all true, — all true. Lad, do not doubt; 
The golden cage is broken. 

Michael 

Oh ! more strange 
Than morning dreams! I am like one new-born; 
I am a speechless babe. — And this is she, 
My Moon I cried for, — here, — 

Piper 

It is thy bride. 

Michael 

Thou wilt not fear to come with me ? 

Barbara 

With thee ? 
With thee ! Ah, look ! What have I more than 

thee? 
And thou art mine, tall fellow ! How comes it 

now 
Right happily that I am pranked so fair! 

\She touches her fineries^ her long pearl- 
strings^ joyously] 



The Piper 131 

And all this came so near to burying; 
This! 

Michael 

And this dearer gold. 
\_Kissmg her hair,'] 

Barbara 

All, all for thee! — 
\_She leans over in a playful rapture and 
binds her hair about him\ 
Look, — I will be thy garden that we lost. 
Yea, everywhere, — in every wilderness. 
There shall none fright us with a flaming 

sword ! 
But I will be thy garden ! 

\fl'here is the sound of a herd-bell approach- 
ing. 

Piper 

See, — how the sunlight soon shall pour red 

wine 
To make your marriage-feast ! — And do you 

hear 
That faery bell? — No fear! — 'T is some white 

creature. 



132 The Piper 

Seeking her whiter lamb. — Go ; find our her- 
mit; 

And he shall bless you, — as a hermit can! 

And be your pledge for shelter. There 's the 
path. — 

[To Michael] 

Follow each other, close! 

Michael 

Beyond the Sun I 

Piper 

A golden afternoon, — and all is well ! 

\_He gives Michael bis cloak to wrap 
round Barbara. T^hey go, hand in hand, 
up into the hills. 'The herd-bell sounds 
softly. — The Piper cocks his head like 
a squirrel, and listens with delight. He 
watches the two till they disappear ; then 
comes down joyously. 

Piper 

If you can only catch them while they 're young ! 

\The herd-bell sounds nearer. He lets down 

a water-jar into the well again. The 



The Piper 133 

nearness of the bell startles him. He be- 
comes watchful as a wild creature. It 
sounds nearer and nearer. A woman s voice 
calls like the wind : ' Jan ! Jan ! ' — 
'The Piper, tense and cautious^ moves softly 
down into the shrubbery by the welL 

Veronika's voice 
Jan! 

Piper 
Hist! Who dared? 

Veronika's voice 

... Jan ! - 

Piper 

Who dared, I say? 
A woman. — 'T is a woman ! 

\_Enter Veronika, on the road from Hame- 
lin. She is very pale and worn, and drags 
herself along, clutching in her hand a 
herd-belL She looks about her, holds up 
the bell and shakes it once softly, covering 
it with her fingers again ; then she sits 
wearily down at the foot of the ruined 



1 34 The Piper 

shrine, and covers her face, with a sharp 
breath. 

Veronika 

. . . Ah, — ah, — ah! 
\^he Piper watches with breathless wonder 
and fascination. It seems to horrify him. 

Piper 

[under breath'] 
That woman ! 

[Veronika lifts her head suddenly and sees 
the motion of the bushes. 

Veronika 

He is coming ! — He is here ! 
[She darts towards the well. — 'The Piper 
springs up. 
Oh, God of Mercy! ... It is only you! 
Where is he ? — Where ? — Where are you hid- 
ing him ? 

Piper 

[confusedly] 

Woman . . . what do you, wandering, with that 

bell ? 
That herd-bell? 



The Piper 135 

Veronika 

Oh ! are you man or cloud ? . . . Where is my 

Jan? 
Jan, — Jan, — the little lame one ! He is mine. 
He lives, I know he lives. I know — yes, yes. 
You Ve hidden him. I will be patient. — Yes. 

Piper 

Surely he lives ! 

Veronika 

— Lives I will you swear it ? Ah, — 
I will believe ! But he ... is not so strong 
As all the others. 

Piper 

[aparf\ 

Aie, how horrible ! 
[T'o her\ 
Sit you down here. You cannot go away 
While you are yet so pale. Why are you thus ? 
\_Sbe looks at him distractedly^ 

Veronika 
You, who have torn the hearts out of our bodies 



136 The Piper 

And left the city like a place of graves, — 
Why am I spent ? — Ah, ah ! — But he 's alive ! 
Yes, yes, he 's Hving. 

Piper 

Oh, how horrible ! 
Why should he not be living ? — What am I ? 

Veronika 
I do not know. 

Piper 
Do you take me for the Devil ? 

Veronika 
I do not know. 

Piper 
Yet you were not afraid ? 

Veronika 
What is there now to fear ? 

'' Piper 

[yuatching her] 

Where are the townsfolk ? 



The Piper 137 

Veronika 
They are all gone to Rudersheim . . . 

Piper 

[still watchful] 

How so ? 

Veronika 

Where, for a penance, Barbara, Jacob's daugh- 
ter. 
Will take the veil. His one, for all of ours ! 
It will be over now. 

Piper 
Have none returned ? 

Veronika 
1 know not ; I am searching, since the dawn. 

Piper 

To-day ? * 

Veronika 
And every day. 



138 The Piper 

Piper 

That herd-bellj there — 
Why do you bring it? 

Veronika 

Oh, he loves them so. 
I knew, if he but heard it, he would follow — 

Piper 
No more. 1 know ! 

Veronika 

An if he could ! 

Piper 

[^like a wounded antmal~\ 

You hurt me 
Somewhere, — you hurt me! 

Veronika 

You ! — A man of air ? 

Piper 

What, am I that ? 



The Piper 139 

Veronika 

What are you ? — Give them back ! 
Give them to me, I say. You have them hidden. 
Are they all living ? 

Piper 

[struggling with pity~\ 

Yes, yes. 

Veronika 

Give them back ! 

Piper 

No. 

Veronika 
But they live, they live ? 

Piper 

— Wilt thou believe me ? 

Veronika 
And are they safe? 



140 


T 


HE Piper 








Piper 










Yes. 










Veronika 










And you 


hide 


them? 






Piper 










Veronika 






And are 


they . 


. . warm? 
Piper 






« 




Veronika 


Yes. 





Yes. 



Are they happy? — Oh, 
That cannot be! — But do they laugh, some- 
times ? 

Piper 
Yes. 

Veronika 
— Then you'll give them back again! 



The Piper 141 

Piper 

No, never. 
Veronika 

[Half to herself, distraught between suspense 
and hope~\ 

I must be patient. 

Piper 

Woman, they all are mine. 
I hold them in my hands ; they bide with me. 
What 's breath and blood, — what are the hearts 

of children. 
To Hamelin, — while it heaps its money-bags ? 

Veronika 
You cared not for the money. 

Piper 

No? — You seem 
A foreign woman, — come from very far. 
That you should know. 

Veronika 

I know. I was not born 
There. But you wrong them. There were yet 
a few 



142 The Piper 

Who would have dealt with you more honestly 
Than this Jacobus, or — 

Piper 

Or Kurt the Syndic ! 
Believe it not. Those two be tongue and brain 
For the whole town ! I know them. And that 

town 
Stands as the will of other towns, a score. 
That make us wandering poor the things we are ! 
It stands for all, unto the end of time, 
That turns this bright world black and the Sun 

cold, 
With hate, and hoarding; — all-triumphant 

Greed 
That spreads above the roots of all despair. 
And misery, and rotting of the soul ! 
Now shall they learn — if money-bags can 

learn — 
What turns the bright world black, and the Sun 

cold ; 
And what 's that creature that they call a child ! — 
And what this winged thing men name a heart 
Beating queer rhythms that they long to kill. — 
What is this hunger and this thirst to sing. 
To laugh, to fight, — to hope, to be believed? 



The Piper 143 

And what is truth ? And who did make the stars ? 

I have to pay for fifty thousand hates. 
Greeds, cruelties ; such barbarous tortured days 
A tiger would disdain ; — for all my kind ! 
Not my one mother, not my own of kin, — 
All, all, who wear the motley in the heart 
Or on the body : — for all caged glories 
And trodden wings, and sorrows laughed to 

scorn. 
I, — I! — At last. 

Veronika 

Ah, me ! How can I say: 
Yet make them happier than they let you be? 

Piper 

Woman, you could ! — They know not how to be 
Happy! They turn to darkness and to woe 
All that is made for joy. They deal with men 
As, far across the mountains, in the south. 
Men trap a singing thrush, put out his eyes, — 
And cage him up and bid him then to sing — 
Sing before God that made him, — yes, to sing ! 

I save the children. — Yes, I save them, so. 



144 



The Piper 



Save them forever, who shall save the world ! — 
Yes, even Hamelin. — 

But for only you^ 
What do they know of Children ? — Pfui, their 

own I 
Who knows a treasure, when it is his own ? 
Do they not whine : ' Five mouths around the 

table ; 
And a poor harvest. And now comes one morel 
God chastens usV — Pfui ! — 

Veronika 

\_apart^ dully] 

. . . But I must be patient. 

Piper 

You know, you know, that not one dared, save 

you,— 
Dared all alone, to search this devil's haunt. 

Veronika 
They would have died — 

Piper 

But never risked their souls ! 
That knew I also. 



The Piper 145 

Veronika 

Ah! 

Piper 

'Young faces/ sooth, 
The old ones prate of! — Bah, what is 't they 

want? 
' Some one to work for me, when I am old ; 
Some one to follow me unto my grave ; 
Some one — for me !' Yes, yes. There is not 

one 
Old huddler-by-the-fire would shift his seat 
To a cold corner, if it might bring back 
All of the Children in one shower of light ! 

Veronika 
The old, ah, yes ! But not — 

Piper 

The younger men ? 
Aha ! Their pride to keep the name alive ; 
The name, the name, the little Hamelin name. 
Tied to the trade; — carved plain upon his 
gravestone ! 



146 The Piper 

Wonderful ! If your name must chain you, live, 
To your gaol of a house, your trade you love 

not, — why, 
Best go without a name, like me ! — How now? 
Woman, — you suffer ? 

Veronika 

Ah, yet could I laugh, 
Piper, yet could I laugh, for one true word, — 
But not of all men. 

Piper 

Then of whom ? 

Veronika 

Of Kurt. 

Piper 

Bah, Kurt the Councillor! a man to curse. 

Veronika 
He is my husband. 

Piper 

[shortly] 

Thine ? I knew it not. 



The Piper 147 

Thine? But it cannot be. He could not father 
That little Jan, — that little shipwrecked Star. 

Veronika 
Oh, then you love him ? You will give him back ? 

Piper 

The son of Kurt P 

Veronika 

No, not his son ! No, no. 
He is all mine, all mine. Kurt's sons are straight. 
And ruddy, like Kurt's wife of Hamelin there. 
Who died before. 

Piper 

And you were wed . . . 

Veronika 

So young. 
It is all like some dream before the sunrise, 
That left me but that little shipwrecked Star. 

Piper 
Why did you marry Kurt the Councillor? 



148 The Piper 

Veronika 

[humbly] 
He wanted me. Once I was beautiful. 

Piper 

\_wonderingly\ 

What, more than now? 

Veronika 
Mock if you will. 

Piper 

I mock you i 

Woman, . . . you are very beautiful. 

Veronika 

1 meant, with my poor self, to buy him house 
And warmth, and softness for his little feet. 
Oh, then I knew not, — when we sell our hearts. 
We buy us nothing. 

Piper 

Now you know. 



The Piper 149 

Veronika 

I know. 
His dearest home it was, to keep my heart 
Alone and beautiful, and clear and still ; 
And to keep all the gladness in my heart, 
That bubbled from nowhere ! — for him to 

drink; — 
And to be houseless of all other things. 
Even as the Lonely Man. 

ijTbe Piper smarts'] 

Where is the child? 

Piper 

No; that I will not tell. Only thus much: 
I love thy child. Trust me, — I love them, all. 
They are the brightest miracle I know. 
Wherever I go, I search the eyes of men 
To find such clearness; — and it is not there. 
Lies, greed and cruelty, and dreadful dark ! 
And all that makes Him sad these thousand 

years. 
And keeps His forehead bleeding. — Ah, you 

know ! 

Veronika 
Whom do you think on ? 



150 The Piper 

Piper 

Why, the Lonely Man. — 
But now I have the children safe with me; 
And men shall never teach them what men 

know ; — 
Those radiant things that have no wish at all 
Save for what is all-beautiful ! — the Rainbow, 
The running Water, and the Moon, the Moon ! 
The only things worth having ! 

Veronika 

— Oh, you will not 
Give him to me ? 

Piper 

How give you yours again, 
And not the others ? What a life for him ! 

\_Sbe hides her face] 
And Kurt the Syndic, left without his sons ? 
Bah, do not dream of it ! What would Kurt 

do? — 
And hearken here ! Should any hunt me down. 
Take care. Who then could bring the children 
back? 

Veronika 
Jan ! Jan ! 



The Piper 151 

Piper 
He loves me. He is happy. 

Veronika 

\_passionately ] 

No! 
Without me ? — No. 

Piper 

He has not even once 
Called you. 

Veronika 

[staggering] 

Ah, ah ! how cruel ! 'T is the spell, 
The spell. 

Piper 

\joucbing bis heart] 

— You hurt me, here. What makes it. 
Woman ? — 
Would you not have him happy ? 

Veronika 

O my God ! 



152 ThePiper 

Piper 

[offering her water'] 

Drink here. Take heart. O Woman, they must 

stay! 
'T is better so. No, no, I mock thee not. 
Thou foldest all about me like the Dark 
That holds the stars. I would I were thy child. 

Veronika 
But I will find him. I will find him — 

Piper 

No, 
It must not be ! Their life is bound with mine. 
If I be harmed, they perish. Keep that word. 
Go, go ! 

Veronika 

\_passionately~\ 

My longing will bring back my Own. 

Piper 

Ah, long not so. 



The Piper 153 

Veronika 

Yes, it will bring him back ! 
He breathes. And I will wish him home to me. 
Till my heart break ! 

Piper 

Hearts never break in Hamelin. 
Go, then; and teach those other ones to long; 
Wake up those dead ! 

Veronika 
Peace. I shall draw him home. 

Piper 

Not till he cries for thee. 

Veronika 

Oh, that will be 
Soon, — soon. 

Piper 

Remember, — if one word of thine 
Set on the hounds to track me down and slay me. 



154 The Piper 

They will be lost forever; they would die, — 
They, who are in my keeping. 

Veronika 

Yea, I hear. 
But he will come . . . oh, he will come to me. 
Soon, — soon. 

[She goes^ haltingly^ and disappears along 
the road to Hamelin, — 'The Piper, alone, 
stands spell-bound^ breathing hard, and 
looking after her. T'hen he turns his head 
and comes down, doggedly. Again he 
pauses. With a sudden sharp effort he 
turns, and crosses with passionate appeal 
to the shrine, his arm uplifted towards 
the carven Christ as if he warded off some 
accusation. His speech comes in a torrent. 

Piper 

I will not, no, I will not. Lonely Man ! 
I have them in my hand. I have them all — 
All — all ! And I have lived unto this day. 
You understand . . . 

\_He waits as if for some reply'] 

You know what men they are. 
And what have they to do with such as these ? 



The Piper 155 

Think of those old as death, in body and heart. 
Hugging their wretched hoardings, in cold fear 
Of moth and rust ! — While these miraculous 

ones, 
Like golden creatures made of sunset-cloud, 
Go out forever, — every day, fade by 
With music and wild stars ! — Ah, but You 

know. 
The hermit told me once. You loved them, too. 
But I know more than he, how You must love 

them : 
Their laughter, and their bubbling, skylark 

words 
To cool Your heart. Oh, listen, Lonely Man ! — 

Oh, let me keep them ! I will bring them to You, 
Still nights, and breathless mornings ; they shall 

touch 
Your hands and feet with all their swarming 

hands. 
Like showering petals warm on furrowed 

ground, — 
All sweetness! They will make Thee whole 

again. 
With love. Thou wilt look up and smile on us ! 



1^6 The Piper 

Why not? I know — the half — You will be 
saying. 

You will be thinking of Your Mother. — Ah, 

But she was different. She was not as they. 

She was more like . . . this one, the wife of 
Kurt! 

Of Kurt ! No, no ; ask me not this, not this ! 

Here is some dawn of day for Hamelin, — 
now ! 

'T is hearts of men You want. Not mumbled 
prayers ; 

Not greed and carven tombs, not misers* candles ; 

No offerings, more, from men that feed on 
men; 

Eternal psalms and endless cruelties ! . . . 

Even from now, there may be hearts in Ham- 
elin, 

Once stabbed awake! 

\_He pleads y defends ^ excuses passionately ; be- 
fore his will gives way^ as the arrow flies 
from the bow-string."] 

— I will not give them back I 

And Jan, — for Jan, that little one, that dearest 

To Thee and me, hark, — he is wonderful. 

Ask it not of me. Thou dost know I cannot ! 



The Piper 157 

Look, Lonely Man ! You shall have all of us 
To wander the world over, where You stand 
At all the crossways, and on lonely hills, — 
Outside the churches, where the lost ones 

go! — 
And the wayfaring men, and thieves and wolves 
And lonely creatures, and the ones that sing! 
We will show all men what we hear and see ; 
And we will make Thee lift Thy head, and 

smile. 

No, no, I cannot give them ail ! No, no. — 
Why wilt Thou ask it ? — Let me keep but one. 
No, no, I will not. ..... 

. Have Thy way. — I will I 



Curtain 



Act IV 



Act IV 



Scene : Hamelin market-place. 

It is early morning; so dark that only a bleak 
twilight glimmers in the square ; the little 
streets are dim. Everywhere gloom and still- 
ness. In the house of Kurt, beside the Min- 
ster^ there is one window-light behind a cur- 
tain in the second story. At the casements^ 
down right and left^ sit Old Claus and 
Old Ursula, wan and motionless as the 
dead. 

'The church-bell, which likewise seems to have 
aged^ croaks softly, twice. Peter the Sacris- 
tan stands by the bell-rope. 

Old Ursula 

NO, no. They '11 never come. I told 
ye so. 
They all are gone. There will be no- 
thing young 
To follow us to the grave. 



i62 The Piper 

Old Claus 

No, no, — not one! 
\^be Minster-door opens, and out come cer- 
tain of the townsfolk from early mass, 
'They look unnaturally old and colorless, 
'Their steps lag drearily. — Hans the 
Butcher and his wife; Axel the Smith 
with his wife, and Peter the Cobbler, 
meet, on their way to the little street, left, 
and greet one another with painstaking, 
stricken kindness. 'They speak in broken 
voices. 

Hans the Butcher 
Well, well — 

Axel the Smith 

God knows ! 

\The bell sounds'] 

Hans the Butcher 

Neighbor, how fare your knees? 
[Axel smooths his right leg and gives a jerk 
of pain. They all move stiffly. 



The Piper 163 

Axel the Smith 
I'm a changed man. 

'Hans the Butcher 

Peter the Sacristan, 
Give by the bell ! It tolls like — Oh, well, well ! 

Axel the Smith 
It does no good, it does no good at all. 

Peter the Cobbler 

Rather, I do believe it mads the demons ; 
And I have given much thought — 

Axel the Smith 

Over thy shoes ! 

Peter the Cobbler 
\_modestly~\ 
To demons. 

Axel's Wife 

Let him chirp philosophy! 
He had no children. 



164 The Piper 

Peter the Cobbler 
{wagging his head solemnly\ 

I 'm an altered man. 
Now were we not proceeding soberly, 
Singing a godly hymn, and all in tune, 
But yesterday, when we passed by — 

Hans' Wife 

Don't say it! 
Don't name the curseful place. 

Hans the Butcher 

— And my poor head. 
It goes round yet; — around, around, around, 
As I were new ashore from the high seas; 
Still dancing — dancing — 

Axel the Smith 
With ' Yes — yes ! — Yes - — yes ! ' 

Hans the Butcher 

Even as ye heard, the farmer's yokel found me 
Clasping a tree, and praying to stand still ! 



The Piper 165 

Axel the Smith 
Ay, ay, — but that is nought. 

Peter the Cobbler 

All nought beside. 

Hans' Wife 

Better we had the rats and mice again, 
Though they did eat us homeless, — if we 

might 
All starve together ! — Oh, my Hans, my 

Hans! 

Peter the Cobbler 

Hope not, good souls. Rest sure, they will not 
come. 

Axel's Wife 

Who will say that ? 

Peter the Cobbler 

\_discreetly\ 

Not I ; but the Inscription. 
\JIe points to the Rathaus wall^ 



i66 The Piper 

Axel the Smith 
Of our own making? 

Peter the Cobbler 

On the Rathaus wall! 
At our own bidding it was made and graved : — 
How, — on that day and down this very street. 
He led them, — he, the Wonderfully-clothed, 
The Strange Man, with his piping; 
\frhey cross themselves\ 

And they went, — 
And never came again. 

Hans' Wife 

But they may come ! 

Peter the Cobbler 
\_pityingly\ 

Marble is final, woman ; — nay, poor soul ! 
When once a man be buried, and over him 
The stone doth say Hie Jacet^ or Here Lies, 
When did that man get up? — There is the 

stone. 
They come no more, for piping or for prayer; 
Until the trump of the Lord Gabriel. 



The Piper 167 

And if they came, 't is not in Hamelin men 
To alter any stone, so graven. — Marble 
Is final. Marble has the last word, ever. 
[Groans from the burgher s,"] 

Hans the Butcher 

O little Use ! — Oh ! and Lump — poor Lump ! 
More than a dog could bear! — More than a 

dog — 
[fThey all break down. 'The Shoemaker con- 

soles them, 

Peter the Cobbler 

Bear up, sweet neighbors. — We are all but 
dust. 

No mice, no children. — Hem ! And now Ja- 
cobus, — 

His child, not even safe with Holy Church, 

But lost and God knows where ! 

Axel's Wife 

Bewitched, — bewitched ! 
[Hans and his wife, arm in arm, turn left, 
towards their house, peering ahead. 



i68 The Piper 

Hans' Wife 

Kind saints ! Me out and gone to early mass, 
And all this mortal church-time, there 's a 

candle, 
A candle burning in the casement there ; — 
Thou wasteful man ! 

Hans the Butcher 
[huskily] 

Come, come ! Do not be chiding. 
Suppose they came and could not see their 

way. 
Suppose — O wife ! — I thought they 'd love the 

light ! 
I thought — 

Peter the Cobbler 

Ay, now ! And there 's another light 
In Kurt the Syndic's house. 

\jrhey turn and look up. Other burghers join 
the group. All walk lamely and look the 
picture of wretchedness. 

Axel's Wife 

His wife, poor thing. 



The Piper i6g 

The priest is with her. Ay, for once, they say, 
Kurt's bark is broken. 

Old Ursula 

There will be nothing young 
To follow us to the grave. 

Axel's Wife 

They tell, she seems 
Sore stricken since the day that she was lost. 
Lost, searching on the mountain. Since that 

time, 
She will be saying nought. She stares and smiles. 

Hans' Wife 
And reaches out her arms, — poor soul ! 

All 

Poor soul ! 
\_Murmur in the distance, They do not 
heed it. 

Axel the Smith 
\_To the Butcher] 

That was no foolish thought of thine, yon 
candle. 



lyo The Piper 

I do remember now as I look back. 
They always loved the lights. My Rudi there 
Would aye be meddling with my tinder-box. 
And once I — Oh ! — 

[Choking] 

Axel's Wife 
[_sootbingly\ 

Now, now ! thou didst not hurt him ! 
*T was I ! Oh, once — I shut him in the dark ! 

Axel the Smith 
Come home . . . and light the candles. 

Peter the Cobbler 

In the day-time ! 

Axel's Wife 
Oh, it is dark enough ! 

Axel the Smith 

Lord knows, who made 
Both night and day, one of *em needs to shine ! 
But nothing does ! — Nothing is daylight now. 
Come, wife, we '11 light the candles. 

\_Exit with bis wife. 



The Piper 171 

Peter the Cobbler 

He 's a changed man. 

Peter the Sacristan 

God help us, what 's to do ? 

iJtumuU approaching. Shouts of ^Jacobus' 
and ' Barbara! 

Hark! 

Hans' Wife 

Neighbors ! 

Hans the Butcher 

Hark! Hark! 
[Axel and his wife reenter hastily ; Axel 
rushes toward the noise. 

Axel's Wife 

Oh, I hear something ! Can it be — 

Peter the Cobbler 

They *re shouting. 



172 The Piper 

Hans the Butcher 

My lambs, — my lambs ! 

[Axel reenters^ crestfallen^ 

Axel the Smith 

'Tis naught — but Barbara ! 
His — his! 

\_S baking his fist at the house of Jacobus J\ 

Peter the Cobbler 
\_calling] 

Jacobus ! 
[The others are stricken with disappoint- 
ment, 

Hans the Butcher 

Wife, — 't is none of ours. 

Axel the Smith 

Let him snore on! — The only man would 

rather 
Sleep late than meet his only child again ! 



The Piper 173 

Peter the Cobbler 
[deprecatingly^ 

No man may parley with the gifts of Fortune ! 

[Knocking on' the door] 
Jacobus ! 

[Enter, at the rear, with a straggling crowd, 
Barbara and Michael, both radiant and 
resolute. She wears the long green cloak 
over her bridal array. 

Jacobus appears in his doorway, night- 
capped and fur-gowned, shrinking from 
the hostile crowd, 'The people murmur. 

Crowd 

Barbara ! — She that was bewitched! 
And who 's the man? Is it the Piper ? No ! 
No, no — some stranger. Barbara ! Barbara 's 

home ; — 
^ He never gave her up ! — Who is the man ? 

Jacobus 

My daughter! 'T is my daughter, — found — 

restored ! 
Oh, heaven is with us! 



174 ThePiper 



All 

\_suUenly\ 

Ah! 

Jacobus 
Child, where have you been ? 

All 

Ay, where, Jacobus? 

[^He is dismayed.'] 

Jacobus 

Who is this man ? — Come hither. 

Barbara 

\_without approaching him^ lifting her face clearly\ 

Good-morning to you, father ! We are wed. 
Michael, — shall I go hither? 

]fthe townsfolk are amazed^ 

Jacobus 

She is mad ? 
She is quite mad, — my treasure. 



The Piper 175 

Peter the Cobbler 

Let her speak. 
Maids sometimes marry, even in Hamelin. 

All 

'Ay, tell us! 
Who is he ? Barbara? 
Art thou mad? — How came ye hither? 

Jacobus 
Who is he? 

Barbara 

Michael. 

Peter the Cobbler 

'T is the Sword-Eater! 
A friend o* the Piper's! — Hearken — 

All 

She's bewitched ! 

Hans' Wife 

This is the girl was vowed to Holy Church, 
For us and for our children that are lost! 



176 The Piper 

Barbara 

Ay, and did any have a mind to me, 

When I was lost ? Left dancing, and distraught ? 

All 

We could not. We were spell-bound. Nay, 
we could not. 

Jacobus 

\jagelyy after the others\ 

We could not. 

Barbara 

So ! — But there was one who could. 
There was one man. And this is he. 
\_Turning to Micbael~\ 

And I, 
I am no more your Barbara, — I am his. 
And I will go with him, over the world. 
I come to say farewell. 

Jacobus 

He hath bewitched her ! 



The Piper 177 

Michael 

Why did we ever come ? Poor darling one, 
Thy too-much duty hath us in a trap I 

Axel the Smith 
No, no ! — Fair play ! 

Others 
Don't let them go ! We have them. 

Peter the Cobbler 

Hold what ye have. Be *t children, rats or mice ! 

\_Hubbub without^ and shouts. Some of the 
burghers hasten out after this fresh excite- 
ment. Jacobus is cowed, Barbara and 
Michael are startled, 'The shouts turn 
savage. The uproar grows. Shouts of 
' yfjv, there he is I We have him ! We 
have him ! Help — help I Hold fast I 
Ah! Piper! Piper! Piper!' 

How now? What all! — 

[The crowd parts to admit the Piper, haled 
hither with shouts and pelting^ by Martin 
the Watch and other men, all breathless. 
His eyes burn. 



178 The Piper 

Michael 

\_aparf\ 

Save us! — They have him. 

Martin 

Igaspingly] 

Help ! 
Mark ye — I caught him ! — Help, — and hold 
him fast! 

Piper 

I came here, — frog ! 

Martin 

Ay, he were coming on ; 
And after him a squirrel, hopping close! 

Second Man 

As no man ever saw a squirrel hop — 

Near any man from Hamelin ! And I looked — 

Martin 

And it was he ; and all we rush upon him — 
And take him ! 



The Piper 179 

Piper 
Loose thy claws, I tell thee ! — 

All 

r 'Ware ! 
Mercy ! 
Let him go ! 

Voice from Crowd 
I have the squirrel ! 

Piper 

[savagely'] 

Let the squirrel go ! 
Or you shall rue it. — Loose him ! He 's not 
mine. 
[He sees Barbara and Michael for the 
first time and recoils with amazement, 
Barbara steps towards him, 

Barbara 

Oh, let him go, — let be. His heart is clear, 
As water from the well ! 

\T^he Piper gazes at her^ open-mouthed,] 



i8o The Piper 

All 



She talks in her sleep ! 
The maid's bewitched ! 
^ Now, will ye hear ? 



Axel's Wife 

He piped and made thee dance ! 

Peter the Cobbler 

*T was he bewitched us ! 

Barbara 

\jerenely~\ 

Whatever was, — it was for love of me. 

Piper 

\j bunder 5 truck^^ 
Sol 

Barbara 

He piped; — and all ye danced and fled away ! 
He piped ; — and brought me back my wander- 
ing wits. 
And gave me safe unto my Love again, — 
My Love I had forgotten. . . . 



The Piper i8i 

Piper 
So! 

Michael 

[wkb conviction] 

Truly said. 

Barbara 

[^prouilly] 

Michael. 

Jacobus 

Who is he, pray ? 

Barbara 
My own true love. 

Peter the Cobbler 

Now, is that all his name ? 

Barbara 
It is enough. 

Jacobus 
— She 's mad. Shall these things be? 



i82 The Piper 

All 

[ "The Children I The Children ! 
\ Where are the Children ? 
I Piper I Piper I Piper I 

Piper 

[sternly] 

Quiet you. And hear me. 
I came to bring good tidings. In good faith, 
Of mine own will, I came. — And like a thief 
You haled me hither. — 

[jThey hang upon his words'] 

. . . Your children — live. 

All 

Thank God ! I knew, I knew ! 
We could not think them lost. 
Bewitched ! Oh, but they live ! — 
LPiper!— O Piper! 

Peter the Cobbler 
They're spell-bound, — mark me! 



The Piper 183 

Piper 

Ay, they are, — spell-bound : 
Fast bound by all the hardness of your hearts; 

Caged^ — in the iron of your money-lust — 



{ 



All 

No, no, not all ! Not I ! Not mine, not mine ! 
No, no, — it is not true. 

Piper 



Your blasphemies, — your cunning and your 
Fear. 

All 

' No, no ! — What can we do ? 
News, Piper, news! 
Where are your tidings. Piper ? 

Piper 

Now hear me. You did make Jacobus swear 
To give his child. — What recks it, how he lose 

her? — 
Either to Holy Church — against her will! — 
Or to this man, — so that he give her up ! 



1 84 ' The Piper 

He swore to you. And she hath pledged her 

faith. 
She is fast wed. — Jacobus shall not have her. 
He breaks all bargains ; and for such as he. 
You suffer. — Will you bear it ? 

All 

No, no, no ! 

Piper 

Then she who was " Proud Barbara " doth wed 
Michael-the-Sword-Eater. — The pledge shall 

stand. 
Shall it? 

All 

r It stands. 
I Ay, ay ! 

Piper 
Your word ! 



{ 



All 

We swear. We answer for him. 
So much for Jacobus ! 



The Piper 185 

Axel the Smith 

An' if yon fellow like an honest trade, 
I'll take him ! — I '11 make swords ! 
[Cheers. Michael is happy. "^ 

All 

Quick, quick ! — Our children. — Piper ! — Tell 
us all ! 

Piper 

'T is well begun. — Now have I come to say : 
There is one child I may bring back to 

you, — 
The first. 



All 

[in an uproar] 

Mine — mine ! Let it be mine 1 
Ours ! — All of them ! Now ! 
Mine — mine — mine I — mine ! 

Piper 

[unmoved] 

— Oh, Hamelin to the end! 



1 86 The Piper 

Which of you longed the most, and dared the 

most? 
Which of you — 

\He searches the crowd anxiously with his 
eyes.'] 

All 

I! I! I! 

We searched the hills ! 

We prayed four days ! 

We fasted twenty hours — 

Mine! Mine! 

Mine — mine — mine — mine! 

Piper 

Not yet. — They all do live 
Under a spell, — deep in a hollow hill. 
They sleep, and wake; and lead a charmed 

life. 
But first of all, — one child shall come again. 

\^He scans the crowd still] 
Where is the wife — of Kurt, the Councillor .? 

All 

\_savagely~\ 

No, mine, mine, mine I 



The Piper 187 

Martin's Wife 

Whatj that lame boy of hers? 

Piper 

Where is the wife of Kurt ? 

Peter the Cobbler AND Others 

— Veronika ? 
The foreign woman ? She is lying ill : 
Sore-stricken yonder — 

\_Pointing to the house. '\ 

Piper 

\_gladly'\ 

Bid her come, look out ! 
[The crowd moves confusedly towards Kurt's 
house. The Piper too approaches, calling] 
Ho, — ho, within there ! 

[Anselm, the priest y appears in the doorway 
with uplifted hand, commanding silence. 
He is pale and stern. At sight of his face 
the Fi^^K falters. 

Anselm 

Silence here ! — Good people. 

What means this ? 



i88 The Piper 

Piper 

I have tidings for — the wife 
Of Kurt — the Councillor. 

Anselm 

You are too late. 

Piper 
Bid her — look out ! 

Anselm 

\jolemnly~\ 

Her soul is passing, now. 

\fthe Piper falls back stricken and speech- 
less, — The crowd, seeing him humanly 
overwhelmed, grows brave. 

Martin's Wife 
'T is he has done it ! 

Hans the Butcher 

— Nay, it is God's will. 
Poor soul ! 



The Piper 189 

Peter the Sacristan 

\_fearfully\ 

Don't anger him ! 'T was Kurt the Syndic 
With his bad bargain. 

Axel the Smith 

Do not cross the Piper ! 

Martin 

Nay, but he 's spent. He 's nought to fear. — 

Look there. 
Mark how he breathes ! Upon him ! Help, 

help, ho ! — 
Thou piping knave ! 

Others 

Tie — chain him ! — Kill him ! — Kill him ! 
\_ney surround him. He thrusts them off,'] 

Peter the Cobbler and Others 

Bind him, but do not kill him 1 — Oh, be- 
ware! 
, What is he saying ? — Peace. 



igo The Piper 

Piper 

\brokenly~\ 

The wife of Kurt ! 
Off! what can you do ? — Oh ! I came, I came 
Here, full of peace, and with a heart of love ; — 
To give — but now that one live Soul of all 
Is gone ! — No, no ! 

— I say she shall not die! 
She shall not I 

Anselm 

Hush ! — She is in the hands of God. 
She is at peace. 

Piper 

No, never ! Let me by ! 
[Anselm l?ars the threshold and steps out,'] 

Anselm 

Thou froward fool ! — Wouldst rend with tears 

again 
That shriven breath? And drag her back to 

sorrow ? 
It is the will of God. 





The Piper 




191 




Piper 








— And I say 


No! 






Anselm 






Who dare 


dispute — 

Piper 

I dare ! 

Anselm 








With death ? — 


With God ? 



Piper 

I know His will, for once ! She shall not die. 
She must come back, and live ! — Veronika ! 
[He calls up to the lighted window. 'The 
people stand aghast: Anselm bars the 
threshold. 
I come, I come! I bring your Own to you! 
Listen, Veronika ! 

\He feels for his pipe. It is gone. — His 
face shows dismay, for a moment~\ 

Where? — Where? 



192 The Piper 

People 

' He 's lost the pipe. — He 's hiding it! — 
He cannot pipe them back! 'tis gone — 'tis 

gone. — 
^No, 'tis to save his hfe. — It is for time. 



Piper 

[^to hmself'\ 

— 'T is but a voice. What matter ? — 

Crowd 

J Seize him — 
I Bind him ! 

Piper 

\jo them] 

Hush! 
[Passionately he stretches his arms towards 
the window, 

Anselm 
Peace, for this parting Soul ! 



The Piper 193 

Piper 

[with fixed eyes\ 

It shall not go. 
[Tb the Window\ 
Veronlka ! — Ah, listen ! — wife of Kurt. 
He comes . . , he comes I Open thine eyes a moment I 
Blow the faint fire within thy heart. He comes ! 
Thy longing brings him ; — ay, and mine, — 

and mine I 
Heed not these grave-makers, Veronika. 
Live, live, and laugh once more ! — Oh! do you 

hear ? 
Look, how you have to waken all these dead, 
That walk about you ! — Open their dim eyes ; 
Sing to them with your heart, Veronika, 
As I am piping, far away, outside ! 
Waken them, — change them ! Show them how 

to long, 
To reach their arms as you do, for the stars. 
And fold them in. Stay but one moment; — 

stay. 
And thine own Child shall draw thee back again 
Down here, to mother him, — mother us all ! 
Oh, do you listen ? — Do not try to answer. — 
I hear ! — I hear. . . . 



1 94 The Piper 

\_A faint sound of piping comes from the dis- 
tance. — The Piper is first watchful, then 
radiant. — 'The burghers are awe-struck^ 
as it sounds nearer. 



Barbara 

Listen ! — 

Michael 

His very tune. 
\frhe ^i?EK faces front with fixed, triumph- 
ant eyes above the crowd. 

Martin's Wife 

O Lord, have mercy ! — 
The Pipe is coming to him, through the air! 

All 

*Tis coming to the Piper ; — we are lost. — 
The Pipe is coming, coming through the air ! 
[The Piper, with a sudden gesture, com- 
mands silence. He bounds away [centre), 
and disappears. The people, spell-bound 
with terror, murmur and pray. 



The Piper 195 

Anselm 

Retro me J Sathanas ! 

[Kurt the Syndic appears on the threshold 
behind Anselm, whose arm he touches^ 
whispering, — l^heir faces are wonder- 
struck with hope and awe, 

Hans the Butcher 
[ to the others^ pointing\ 

'T is Kurt the Syndic. 

Axel the Smith 

Then she lives ! — 

Hans' Wife 

Look there ! 
Others 
Look^ look I 'The casement / . . . 

\The casement of the lighted window opens 
wide and slowly. — Reenter the Piper 
with Jan in his arms, The little boy holds 
the Pipe^ and smiles about with tranquil 
happiness. The Piper, radiant with joy, 
lifts him high, looking toward Veronika*s 



ig6 The Piper 

window, — l^he awe-struck people point 
to the open casement. 
Veronika's two white hands reach out; 
then she herself appears^ pale ^shining with 
ecstasy, 

Jan 

'T is Mother I 

Ijthe Piper lifts him still before the win- 
dow^ gazing up. 'Then he springs upon the 
bench [outside the lower window) and gives 
Jan into the arms of Veronika. — Kurt 
and Anselm bow their heads. A hush, 
— Then Jan looks down from the win- 
dow-seat. 

Piper 

\to him^ smiling wisely] 

And all the others ? 

Jan 

They were all asleep. 

Piper 

I '11 waken them ! 

\_He takes his pipe. — An uproar of joy 
among the burghers^ 



The Piper 197 

Axel the Smith, Hans the Butcher, All 

Bring lights, — bring lights ! 
\ Oh, Piper — Oh, my lambs ! 
. The children ! — The children ! 

\_Some rush out madly ; others go into their 
houses for lights ; some are left on their 
knees y weeping for joy. 

'The Piper sounds a few notes; then lifts 
his hand and listens, smiling. — Uproar in 
the distance. — A great harking of dogs ; 

— shouts and cheers ; then the high, sweet 
voices of the Children. 

The piping is drowned in cries of joy. The 
sun comes out, still rosy, in a flood of light. 
The crowd rushes in. Fat burghers hug 
each other, and laugh and cry. They are 
all younger. Their faces bloom, as by a 
miracle. 

The Children pour in. Some are carried, some 
run hand-in-hand. Everywhere woinen 
embrace their own. — Kurt has his sons, 

— Cheat-the-Devil comes, with a daisy^ 
chain around his neck, all smiles. 

An uproar of light and faces. 



ig8 The Piper 

Hans the Butcher 
The treasure for the Piper ! 

All 

Ay, ay, Piper ! 

Hans the Butcher 
The thousand guilders ! 

Piper 

Give them Michael there, 
For all us three. I hate to carry things ; — 
Saving out one ! 

\He waves his hand to Jan in the window, 
— Veronika appears behind him, shin- 
ing with new life. Jan leans out and points 
to the ground. 

Heja I What now ? — 

\_Picking up one of ]an's winged shoes."] 

Hans' Wife 

Look ! Look ! — 
And wings upon it ! Mercy, what a shoe. — 
Don't give it back. — The child will fly away ! 



The Piper 199 

Piper 

No, no ! 

[Looking up at the window soothingly. 1 
He only wanted one to show — 

Jan 

To Mother ! — See. 

[Showing her his other foot, joyously\ 

Piper 
[to him] 

And this, — wilt leave it here ? 
Here — with — 

Jan 

The Lonely Man ! Oh, make Him smile ! 

[The Piper crosses to the Shrine, with the 
little shoe, and hangs it up there ; then he 
turns towards the window, waving his 
hand. 

Children 

Where are you going ? . . . 

[They run and cling.'] 



200 The Piper 

Piper 

Ah, the high-road now! 

Children 
Oh! why? 

Piper 

I have to find somebody there. 
Yes, now and every day, and everywhere 
The wide world over. — So: good-night, good- 
morning, 
Good-by ! There 's so much piping left to do, — 
I must be off, and pipe. 

Children 

Oh! why? 

Piper 

I promised. 
Look you ! . . . 

Children 

Who is it? 



The Piper 
Piper 



20I 



Why, — the Lonely Man. 

\He waves them farewell^ and goes, 'The 
Children dance and laugh and sparkle, 
'Through the hundred sounds of joy ^ there 
comes a far-off pi-ping. 

The End 




CAMBRIDGE . MASSACHUSETTS 
U . S . A 



X 



